EKREM YALÇINDAĞ’S SOLO EXHIBITION ‘NATURES’ TO TAKE PLACE AFTER NINE YEARS AT SEVIL DOLMACI ISTANBUL…

The solo exhibition “Natures” by Ekrem Yalçındağ, a leading figure in Turkish Contemporary Art, will take place  after a nine year period at Sevil Dolmacı Istanbul.

Sevil Dolmacı Istanbul will bring together art enthusiasts with the solo exhibition of Ekrem Yalçındağ, one of the pioneers of Turkish contemporary art, titled “Natures,” after nine years. The exhibition will take place at Sevil Dolmacı Istanbul from February 13, 2024 till March 18, 2024.

Graduated from Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Fine Arts in 1989, Ekrem Yalçındağ is known for his geometric and repetitive patterns. Starting his art career under the guidance of Prof. Adem Genç, Yalçındağ also worked in the studio of Prof. Hermann Nitsch at Staedelschule in Frankfurt. The artist stands out with his unique painting technique and diverse works produced through different techniques.

The exhibition brings together Ekrem Yalçındağ’s recent works in various techniques, after a period of nine years. The highlighted pieces in the exhibition provides viewers with the opportunity to explore the artist’s evolution and altered techniques.

The “Natures” series, Yalçındağ employs painted wooden panels pressed onto the canvas throughout, creating circular forms that overlap with a delicate network of lines resembling ‘tree traces.’ The artist interprets these traces as marks of life and growth, bringing together seemingly contradictory worlds in his paintings. Large plant motifs applied to the canvas surface in the form of screen printing, influenced by Andy Warhol, add another dimension to Yalçındağ’s works.

The exhibition will predominantly feature the “Natures” series produced with different techniques in 2023. Additionally, the “Infinity” series and geometric works of Yalçındağ will be presented within the scope of the exhibition. New works and series that have never been unveiled before will make their debut at Sevil Dolmacı Istanbul. Presenting a unique world to his viewers, Yalçındağ uses oil painting which is a typical painting technique, that combines the miniature brush technique using wood and screen printing.

Yalçındağ’s fundamental approach involves transcending the decorative function of color through ornamentation. Thus, a perceptual system emerges where color adheres solely to itself, rather than to objects or surfaces. In other words, Yalçındağ sees ornamentation not as a complementary element in decorative art but as an independent personal style.

The artist reminds us that ornamentation, with a history dating back to ancient times, transitioned directly into painting as an art form with Henri Matisse, later being used as an autonomous art form on its own. The “Natures” series gained recognition initially at Kunstforum Vienna within the ‘Seeing the World Anew’ exhibition curated by Robert Fleck. It later found a place on the international stage through museum exhibitions under the Hermann Nitsch Foundation at MoMAD Dubrovnik. The series was last exhibited at Sevil Dolmacı Dubai, receiving significant attention.

The exhibition’s installation was completed by the artist himself and curator Dorethea Strauss.

Villa İpranosyan