( CNN ) -- To Erdal Inci , GIFs are a form of visual music . `` When I started to look at the physics of music , I saw something that is unchanging . It 's like you have a unique moment , and it repeats endlessly in the form of musical notes . I realized that I could do the same thing in video . '' The Turkish digital artist has made a name for himself -- both online and in the gallery circuit -- for his surreal , looping works . In keeping with the demands of the art form , Inci 's videos consist of short , one- to two-second clips looped in an endless run . Istanbul features prominently in the backdrop of his work , as does Inci himself . `` The city has really nice scenery and a beautiful light scene . I 've decided to use this beautiful scenery as a decoration of some show . I 've decided to use it as a set , '' he says . Inci seems to favor theater terms . Though his audience tends to view his work from their living rooms , he still sees what he does as a public performance , albeit it one in which he plays all the roles . He is the cast . Though there may be only one of him , he is able to use cloning tools to make more . He is also the crew ; he is at once choreographer , director , editor and distributor . `` You ca n't put on a show in a public space without permission from the municipality . If you want a crowd scene , you need too many people . With this technique , I have a chance to show choreography to people in any possible place , like Taksim Square . And I just need one person . That 's why I use myself -- it 's the easiest way to do it . When you clone yourself , you can create an army that will move as you want . You do n't need any production or special cameras , '' he says . His looping selfie army can be slightly comical , but it can also be eerie and haunting , which is precisely the effect he 's going for . `` Sometimes people tell me they find my work spooky or scary . To hear that the work makes people feel something is the best comment for me , '' he says . Though his GIFs , once looped , contain a mere second or two of footage , it can take Inci as much as ten days to film and edit a single piece . To make sure he is alone with his city when filming , he usually sets up his camera on a fixed tripod between 3am and 5am . `` Some people are out that time of day , '' he concedes . `` Sometimes they wo n't see the camera , because it 's far away , and they 'll just see me streaming nonsense , or running on a spiral path , like a crazy man . '' Inci says he finds comfort in the patterns he 's able to create using just himself , a light source and the background . `` I create a human pattern . I can fill a space with those patterns . I have a chance to draw a line with people . The repetition makes me personally relaxed , '' he says .
Turkish artist Erdil Inci clones himself on GIFs to make surreal patterns . He stages public performances in Istanbul when no one is around . Comment: