Ekrem Yalçındağ, a Pioneer of Turkish Contemporary Art, Will Hold His First Solo Exhibition “Natures,” Curated by Sevil Dolmacı, Opens in Istanbul

Sevil Dolmacı Istanbul will bring art lovers together with “Natures,” a solo exhibition by Ekrem Yalçındağ—one of the pioneers of Turkish contemporary art—which will take place at
after a nine-year hiatus. The exhibition will be open to the public at Sevil Dolmacı Istanbul from February 13, 2024, through March 18, 2024.

Ekrem Yalçındağ, who graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylül University in 1989, is an artist known for his geometric and repetitive patterns
. Yalçındağ began his artistic career with Prof. Adem Genç and also studied in Prof. Hermann Nitsch’s studio at the Städelschule in Frankfurt.

The artist stands out for her works created using various techniques and her unique painting style.
“Natures” Yalçındağ’s solo exhibition “Natures,” which will take place after a nine-year hiatus, brings together works the artist has created using various techniques in recent years
. At the exhibition, the “Natures” series—one of Yalçındağ’s standout
works—will offer viewers the opportunity to explore the artist’s evolution and his evolving techniques
.

In his “Natures” series, Yalçındağ creates “tree marks” that overlap with a network of fine lines forming circular shapes by pressing painted wooden panels onto the entire surface of the canvas. Interpreting these traces as signs of life and growth, the artist brings together worlds that appear to be in conflict within his paintings. Large plant motifs applied to the canvas background as silkscreen prints—under the influence of Andy Warhol—add a distinct dimension to Yalçındağ’s works.

Essentially, what Yalçındağ does is transcend the decorative function (or burden) of color through decoration itself. In this way, a perceptual framework emerges in which color remains true only to itself, rather than to objects or surfaces. In other words, through the possibilities of ornamentation, he grants color what amounts to absolute freedom. According to Yalçındağ, although it is often misunderstood in Turkey for various reasons, ornamentation in art is not a complementary element but a personal style in its own right.

The artist points out that decoration, which has a very long history, was transformed into a work of art through painting with Henri Matisse, and that it later came to be used as an autonomous work of art in its own right. The “Natures” series was first introduced at Kunstforum Vienna as part of the “Seeing the World Anew” exhibition, curated by Robert Fleck. It later gained international recognition through exhibitions at the Hermann Nitsch Foundation museum at MoMAD Dubrovnik. Most recently, Sevil Dolmacı’s work was exhibited in Dubai and attracted significant attention.

The installation of the exhibition was realized in collaboration with artist Ekrem Yalçındağ and Zurich-based Director Dorethea Strauss
. This collaboration added a special depth to the content and presentation of the exhibition.