YARAT CENTRE: IN A MULTIPLE-PERSPECTIVE GROUP EXHIBITION

01 Dec - 30 Apr 23

YARAT Contemporary Art Space is pleased to announce a new group exhibition titled In a Multiple-Perspective presenting newly commissioned as well as recent works of 17 artists: Setenay Alpsoy, Selçuk Artut, Vahap Avşar, Osman Bozkurt, İpek Duben, Işıl Eğrikavuk & Jozef E. Amado, Nezaket Ekici, Cevdet Erek, Ahmet Rüstem Ekici & Hakan Sorar, Özlem Günyol & Mustafa Kunt, Hakan Gürsoytrak, Ali Kazma, Serhat Kiraz and Seyhun Topuz.

VIRTUAL TOUR

“Social scientists should take their eyes off the ground.” Martin Parker

What does it mean to look vertically at the rapidly urbanizing world today? How can the verticality of the earth be understood? Until recently, the horizontal perspective dominated our world knowledge, so geography was visualized on flat maps. The concept of geopolitics refers to the traditional nation-state organized on maps and globes.

The linear perspective was necessary for formulating modern nation-states and the geographical and geopolitical sciences. Geography and geopolitics explained how states fought for regional power and territory in a horizontal worldview. Such a perspective ignores the three-dimensionality of the world. Whereas there are discussions about this in art, architecture, and geology, a linear perspective still dominates the conversation.

British geographer Doreen Massey wrote in 1994 that “borders do not define places on a map.” Instead, they are “moments articulated in social relations and understanding networks.” Most of these relationships in our age go through small places. “In a Multiple-Perspective” is an excellent example of their interconnected relationships worldwide and their vertically organized relationships to such points. The exhibition will explore material and geographical multiperspective forms that strongly overlap with the human experience. Vertical and other spatial metaphors work to construct and recreate sociability; the vertical derives directly from the physical experience of social life and actively influences how people perceive and shape the social and political world.

Conceptually, the exhibition suggests that the political, social, and urban struggles of our rapidly urbanizing world can only be understood through such a multidimensional and critical perspective. The exhibition uses vertical metaphors to describe, experience, and analyze all events, environments, and worlds and problematize how this happens. When we achieve this, it will enable us to “see the world again” by developing our own critical, vertical, and indeed entirely voluminous views of city, politics, life, and geography.

These various aspects and the tensions between them will also be further addressed in an extensive public program of film screenings, panel discussions and lectures.

The exhibition is curated by Fırat Arapoğlu.

Dates: December 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023

Location: YARAT Contemporary Art Centre (National Flag Square)

Exhibition opens: Tuesday through Sunday, 12.00 – 20.00

COVID passport is required

About Curator:

Fırat Arapoğlu (b.1980) is an art historian (PhD), art critic & independent curator. He lives and works in İstanbul. He has been working in Economic, Administrative and Social Sciences Faculty, Department of Social Sciences, Altinbas University as an Assistant Professor. He curated numerous exhibitions in Turkey and abroad, most recently including: “Future Unforgettable”, Krassimir Terziev solo show (2019, Versus Art Projects, İstanbul), The Fifth Agreement, Esra Satiroglu solo show (2019, Summart, İstanbul), and “Simbart One-Day” solo show programmes. He co-curated 3rd International Canakkale Biennale and 3rd and 4th International Mardin Biennales. He has written articles in national and international art magazines such as Sanat Dünyamız, Genç Sanat, Art-İst Modern & Actual, ICE, ARTAM, Art Unlimited, Critical Culture, RH+, İstanbul Art News and Flash Art. He has also written articles in national newspapers called Birgün, Cumhuriyet and SOL. He has also written national and international symposium proceedings about art and art education and has been giving lectures in Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Moda Sahnesi, Narmanli Sanat, İstanbul Bilgi University. He was the 2018-2020 President of AICA- Turkey (International Association of Art Critics-Turkey).

About Artists:

Setenay Alpsoy (b. 1983) graduated from the Neş'e Erdok workshop at the painting faculty of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2005 and earned her master's degree at the Social Sciences Institute, from the painting faculty of the same university, in 2009. Alpsoy, whose works IETT BLOCKS I and IETT BLOCKS II were chosen to be included in the permanent collection of One Thousand Museum in 2019, was also selected to take part in the 2020 Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Award exhibition. Alpsoy’s work Gayrettepe Last Stop took part in the exhibition, which opened in London and visited various cities of England for the six months. She was among the finalists of Sustainable Arts Foundation 2021. The artist opened seven solo exhibitions titled “Through the Transparent City” (2020); “Visit” (2018); “Texture” (2016); “Imperfect Beauty” (2014); “Invisible City” (2012); “City Riven by the Sea” (2010); and “Setenay Alpsoy Painting Exhibition” (2008), as well as took part in many group exhibitions. The artist currently lives and works in Istanbul. Since 2008, she has been working with Evin Art Gallery.

Selçuk Artut’s (b. 1976) artistic research and production focus on theoretical and practical dimensions of human-technology relations. Artut’s artworks have been exhibited at “Surveillance” (Istanbul, Turkey, 2021), Dystopie Sound Art Festival (Berlin, 2018), Moving Image NY (New York, 2015), Art13 London (London, 2013), ICA London (London, 2012), Art Hong Kong (Hong Kong, 2011), Istanbul Biennale (Istanbul, 2007), and received coverage at Artsy, Creative Applications, CoDesign, Visual Complexity, CNN GO. He holds a PhD in Media and Communications from European Graduate School, Switzerland.

An author of six books and an editor of one, Artut is an Associate Professor at the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design Program at Sabanci University, Istanbul where he mainly teaches Sound and Interaction Courses. He has released several albums as a member of the post-rock avant-garde music band Replikas since 1998. In 2016, Artut founded an audio-visual performance duo named RAW which produces works through creative coding and live-coding techniques.

Vahap Avşar (b. 1965, Malatya, Turkey) attended Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Fine Arts from 1985 to 1989 and Bilkent University Fine Arts Department from 1989 to 1995 where he earned a master’s degree and completed the coursework for a PhD. Avşar’s solo exhibitions include “Lost Shadows”, SALT Beyoğlu, Istanbul (2015); “Black Album”, Rampa, Istanbul (2013); “iBerlin”, TANAS, Berlin (2012); “Noneisafe”, Charles Bank Gallery, New York (2011), “Vahap Avşar”, Rampa, Istanbul (2010); “Come Who Ever You Are”, W139, Amsterdam (1993); and “Myths”, Galeri Zon, Ankara (1991). His group exhibitions, among others, include “Istanbul: Passion, Joy, Fury”, MAXXI Museo Nazionale Delle Arti del XXI Secolo, Rome; “Too Early, Too Late: Middle East and Modernity”, Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna (2015); “Artists’ Film International”, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul and Whitechapel Gallery, London (2015); “Zwölf im Zwölften”, TANAS, Berlin (2011); “Second Exhibition”, ARTER, Istanbul (2010) and others. Avşar is currently based in New York and Istanbul.

Osman Bozkurt (b. 1970, Istanbul) uses photography and video to produce civic memory to witness the subliminal intricacies and forgotten paradoxes of life in urban dwellings. Mapping the fraught spaces that are between public and private, his scenes from everyday life are humbling quotidian portraits charged with political resistance. His photography and video works have been exhibited at ZKM/ Karlsruhe, Germany (2013); Kunsthaus Zürich/ Switzerland (2015); PRATT MANHATTAN GALLERY, NYC, USA (2015); MAXXI Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, Rome, IT (2015); TALLINN ART HALL, Tallin, EE (2017); SCHIRN KUNSTHALLE, Frankfurt, DE (2018) and as well as many other groups shows. Bozkurt’s work was featured in numerous publications including Nafas Art Magazine, Camera Austria, The Independent, and IMAGES / Le Magazine de la Photographie. Bozkurt is the co-founder and co-director of PiST/// Interdisciplinary Project Space, a non-for-profit, independent artist-run space in Istanbul, founded in 2006.

Ipek Duben (b. 1941, Istanbul) graduated from New York Studio School for Painting, Drawing and Sculpture (1972-76), Mimar Sinan University (PhD Art History) 1984. Duben’s works are paintings, book arts, video and multimedia installations which address identity, migration and cultural issues. Her most recent solo exhibitions include “The Skin, Body and I, İpek Duben Retropective”, SALT Beyoglu, İstanbul, 2022; “Angels and Clowns”, PiArtworks, Istanbul, 2020; “in via incognita”, PiArtworks, London, 2018; “ONLAR/THEY”, multiscreen video installation, UK Premier, Fabrica, Brighton 2017, SALT Galata, Istanbul 2015; She has participated in numerous group exhibitions: “Guilty, Guilty, Guilty”, Kunstraum Keuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, 2022; “Nature and State”, Kunsthalle, Baden-Baden, 2022; “SOCIAL WORKS”, (eight international ground breaking women artists in the 80s), Frieze Contemporary Art Fair, London, 2018; Brighton Festival, UK, 2017; Mardin Biennial, Turkey, 2018; Her works are kept in museum collections such as Istanbul Modern; The British Museum; Arter Museum, Istanbul; Bibliotheca Alexandrina-Egypt; Museum voor Volkenkunde Rotterdam; Wien Museum (in Karamustafa Export Import Project); King St. Stephen Museum, Deak Collection, Székesfehérar, Hungary; Center for Book Arts-New York; Moscow Artist’s Book Archive; Zorlu Foundation; and private collections in USA, Turkey, Japan, France, United Kingdom.

Işıl Eğrikavuk (b. 1980) is a Turkish-born international performance artist and academic based in Berlin, Germany. She received her MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and a PhD in Communication from Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey. Her work utilizes storytelling, journalism and dialogue-based practices and examines critical themes including protest, feminism, identity politics, nature, and universal interconnectedness. These works take the form of temporary and permanent installations, interactive events and performances, photographic and video documentation, and text-based work. Eğrikavuk has participated in numerous international exhibitions and residencies, and her work has been published in both local and international journals. Recent exhibitions and venues include La Casa Encencida, Madrid, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Photography (2022); Arnis Residency, Germany (2021); Chicago Architecture Biennial (2021); Die Büehne, Berlin (2019); Art Souterrain, Montreal (2019); “Pluto’s Kitchen”, Block Universe, London (2017); “Every Kind of Myth is Written with Care, Propaganda in 21st Century”, Lenbachhaus Museum, Munich (2017); etc.

Nezaket Ekici (b. 1970, Kirsehir, Turkey) lives and works in Istanbul, Berlin and Stuttgart. In 2000, she completed a Master's in Art Education at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, while simultaneously studying Art Education in sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. In 2004, Ekici earned her Master's in Performance Art, studying under Dr. Marina Abramović at the Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Braunschweig. Ekici has presented over 300 works of her performance art in more than 60 countries on 4 continents. She describes her cultural setting as "German, Turkish, and International" – she is an artistic nomad. Her recent solo exhibitions are “Panta Rhei”, Performance at Bröhan Museum, Berlin (2021); “TBQ”, Georgian National Museum Tbilisi (Dual exhibition with Shahar Marcus) (2021); “Beschriebenes Blatt”, Kunstverein Gießen (2020); “The Honey Project”, Dual exhibition with Shahar Marcus, Baustellenfest, “Haus am Waldsee”, Skulpturenpark, Berlin (2018); “Einwand”, KAS Stiftung, Berlin (2017); Tooth for Tooth, in the frame of the exhibition “Postideja IV”, Karas, Pamėnkalnio Galleria, Vilnius (2016).

Cevdet Erek(b.1974, Istanbul) studied architecture at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts in Istanbul between 1992 and 1999. In 2003, while practicing as an architect and performing with the rock group Nekropsi, Erek received his master’s degree in sound engineering and design at the Center for Advanced Studies in Music (MIAM) of Istanbul Technical University, where he also completed a PhD. His artistic practice is based on the themes of sound, architecture, rhythm, measured time, dance music and site-specificity. Combining video, sound and images, he often attempts to alter the viewer’s perception and experience of a given environment. Cevdet Erek has had solo exhibitions at venues including Arter, Istanbul (2020); Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin; Art Institute of Chicago (2019); M KHA, Antwerpen (2018); Pavilion of Turkey at the 57th Venice Biennale (2017); MUAC, Mexico (2017); Spike Island, Bristol, UK (2014); MaerzMusik, Berlin, Germany (2013); Künstlerhaus Stuttgart, Germany (2013); Kunsthalle Basel, Bâle, Switzerland (2012); Overgaden, Copenhague, Denmark (2011); and 300m² Art Space, Gothenburg, Sweden (2009). He also presented his works in several group exhibitions in international venues such as SF MOMA, San Francisco; Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (2019); Shanghai Biennale (2018); 20th Sydney Biennale (2016); Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2014); MAXXI, Rome; Istanbul Modern, Istanbul; the 5th Marrakesh Biennial; Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2014), MAK, Vienna; the 11th Sharjah Biennial (2013), etc. During his residency at Rijksakademie, Cevdet Erek was awarded the Uriot Prize for his video Studio (2005), and he received the Nam June Paik Prize in 2012.

Ahmet Rüstem Ekici(b. 1983, Adana) graduated from Bilkent University Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design in 2008. He worked for a decade as an art director in the realm of television set, studio and stage design. Having obtained a certificate of Art Writing from Node Center Berlin in 2015, Ekici has been writing art and exhibition articles for various magazines and social media platforms as well as in his own blog. He continues his artistic practice with 3D drawings and site-specific installations. He uses photography, digital drawing, digital collage, ceramics and readymade objects to create works on the human body and its social codes shaped around concepts like gender, belongingness, and existence. The concept-driven approach of his site-specific installations reveals the potential of the readymade object by tackling films, events and subjects unforgettable to contemporary society. He has participated in various exhibitions such as Bald but Hairy Queer Art Festival, Ada Sanat (2020); CADAF Digital Art Fair (2020); Thessaloniki Queer Arts Festival (2020); “Hamam”, solo exhibition, Galeri Bu Pavillion, İstanbul (2019); “Digigether”, UNHCR, Uniq Gallery, İstanbul (2019); “Başka Dünya” group exhibition, Mine Art Gallery (2018); “Hafıza Kürü”, Antonina Art Gallery (2018); “Hayat”, Art50net & Down Syndrome Turkish Association (2017); “Bir Arada”, Uniq Galery, Workshop and Exhibition (2016).

Hakan Sorar (b. 1991, Turkey) graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and entered the arts by taking classes on photography and different art practices in various workshops. He worked as a photographer for online and printed publications. After completing the master’s degree program in the Faculty of Sciences, Sorar continued his graduate studies at Beykoz University, Faculty of Art Design, Department of Communication Design and Semiotics. Following his first solo exhibition in 2020, Sorar continues his practice in Istanbul, where he connects various digital and analog printing techniques. Besides his art projects, Sorar continues to study photography and 3D design, exploring the body and digital body. Sorar’s works have been exhibited at various international Queer festivals and exhibitions such as Paralaks, Museum Gazhane, İstanbul, Turkey (2022); Lines of Site, Autonoma University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (2022); Lines of Site, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland (2022); “With Love”, Ekav Art Gallery, İstanbul, Turkey (2022); “Untitled 1.0”, Frank Art Studio, İstanbul, Turkey (2021); “Plug-in ’20”, Contemporary İstanbul, Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center, İstanbul, Turkey (2021); “Walk in Their Shoes”, Love 360 Fest, 360 Beyoğlu, İstanbul, Turkey (2020); “Cool 6”, group exhibition, Pinelo Art Gallery, İstanbul, Turkey (2020); etc.

Özlem Günyol (b. 1977, Ankara) and Mustafa Kunt (b. 1978, Ankara) have been working together since 2005. In their works, they investigate representation of individual and collective belonging, meaning of language, symbols, and information conveyed by the media, as well as their link to culturally coded patterns of understanding. This way, they contribute to the critical reflection on current societal questions of cultural and societal affiliation. Ozlem Gunyol and Mustafa Kunt moved to Germany after graduating from Hacettepe University Ankara in 2001. Artists’ selected exhibitions include “minute by minute”, Dirimart, Istanbul (2015); Dortmunder Kunstverein (2014 “Vier”, Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK3), Frankfurt am Main (2008); “be-cause”, Basis e.V., Frankfurt am Main (2007). Selected group exhibitions: “As Rights Go By – On the Erosion and Denial of Rights”, freiraum Q21, Museums Quartier, Vienna (2016); “New Frankfurt Internationals: Solid Signs”, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt am Main / NKV, Wiesbaden (2015); “ars viva 12/13”, Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz (2013); “Lines of Thought”, Parasol Unit, London (2012); and 12th International Istanbul Biennial (2011); etc.

Hakan Gürsoytrak (b.1963, Ankara) graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Painting Faculty in 1990. He received his master’s degree in 1993 from England Reading University, Fine Arts Faculty. In 1996, Gursoytrak completed his sufficiency in Arts in Anatolia University, Social Sciences Institute, specializing in painting, with the thesis titled “Imagery in Contemporary Arts”. Gursoytrak is among the founders of the group “Hafriyat” and currently works as a teaching member in Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. He has participated in numerous exhibitions such as “Paslaşmalar” VII Forum (2022); “Evin Art Gallery on its 25th Year” (2021); “In Trace of Paper” (2020); “ Tüyap Artist 2019 Art Fair Selection” (2019); Artisit Art Fair 2018 ; “The Hoard - Hakan Gürsoytrak” (2018); International ARTIST Art Fair (2017); “Human and it's Nature” (2017); etc.

Ali Kazma (b.1971, Istanbul) is a lens-based artist living in Istanbul and Paris. Ali Kazma completed his BA at the University of Colorado at Boulder (USA) and received his MA from The New School University in New York City. Kazma’s works raise fundamental questions about the meaning and significance of contemporary human presence and activity. His works, which have strong associations with one another, aim to create conceptual and physical spaces that foster aesthetic and ethical discourse on a range of interconnected topics. The artist, who represented Turkey at the 55th Venice Biennale - Pavilion of Turkey in 2013, had a comprehensive solo exhibition at Jeu de Paume, Paris in 2017. Ali Kazma’s major solo exhibitions include Albergo Diurno Venezia, Milan (2018); MUNTREF, Buenos Aires (2018); Arter, Istanbul (2015); Hirschhorn Museum, Washington, DC (2010), and others. Group exhibitions and biennials include 6th Kuandu Biennale, Taipei (2018); 7th Moscow International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow (2017); MAXXI, Rome (2016); Musée d'Art Contemporaine de Lyon, Lyon (2013); 30th Sao Paulo Biennial, Sao Paulo (2012); Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf (2010); and New Museum, New York (2010); etc. He has received the UNESCO Prize for Promotion of the Arts in 2001 and the Nam June Paik Award in 2010. The artist’s works have been included in a number of institutional collections such as CNAP (Paris), Istanbul Modern, MEP (Paris), MONA (Tasmania), Sztuki Museum (Lodz), Tate Modern (London), TBA21 (Vienna), Foundation Louis Vuitton Collection (Paris) and VKV Foundation Collection (Istanbul).

Serhat Kiraz (b.1954, Istanbul) graduated from Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts High Painting Faculty in 1973-79. Between 1996-99, he completed his Proficiency in Art at Marmara University. In 1977, he founded the Art Definition Group with Şükrü Aysan, Ahmet Öktem and Avni Yamaner. They organized the first conceptual art exhibitions in Turkey between 1978-1981. He held solo exhibitions in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Cologne, Essen and Venice. He appeared with his work The Religions of God, Two Unchanging and Changing Images at the Osaka Triennial in 1990, and Space Time at the 45th Venice Biennale in 1993. His works have been exhibited at various art fairs in Bari, Cologne and Istanbul. After establishing the Compound Arts Program at Yıldız Technical University Faculty of Art and Design, he continued to run this program between 1999 and 2006. The artist lives and continues to work in Istanbul. He teaches at various universities in Istanbul.

Seyhun Topuz (b.1942, Balikesir) is a Turkish sculptor who works in a geometric abstract narrative. During her study years, she stopped attending law school. Later, she was accepted to the State Fine Arts Academy, MSGSÜ, and graduated from its Higher Sculpture Department. Topuz was one of the 20 artists chosen to make works in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic (1973), and her artwork stayed at 4. Levent for a limited time. Between 1978 – 1980 and 1983 – 1984, she continued her sculpture career in New York City; during the years 1978–1980, she worked together with Art Students League sculptor Jose De Cleft. In 1987, she participated in the Istanbul Biennial. She was awarded the Sculptor of the Year: ‘Yılın Heykel Sanatçısı’ award from Ankara Art Foundation in 1990.

Jozef Erçevik Amado (b.1980) completed his MFA in Performance Art and Video Art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2006. He met Işıl Eğrikavuk at school and collaborated with her in many projects: Everything You Want to Know About Love and Contemporary Art (Performance), Every Kind of Myth is Written with Care (Performance, photography); Change Will Be Terrific (Performance photo series, a rap song!) and Explaining a Joke (Performance). In 2016, he formed Bluff Films, an independent film production company to tell cutting edge urban stories. His first feature length film, Taksim Hold'em, made its world premiere at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival. He is a lecturer in film production and visual arts at Galatasaray Üniversity, MEF and Yeditepe University. He is developing his second film project, Pastoral. Recent exhibitions/performances include: GSK Contemporary, Royal Academy, London, Winter Story, Shunt, London and Lost in translation, 9th Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul. Salt Istanbul, 3^rd Mardin Biennial, Salon İKSV, Vilnius Film Festival, Venice Film Festival. Currently lives and works in Istanbul.