The longing inside is not only for the past, I know

The way to be permanent and make a difference in art is to be original and creative. Originality and creativity are created by trial and error, doing research and gaining practice in developing a different technique, in line with the environment in which the artist lives, the conditions in which he is educated. In this context, I would like to introduce you to a powerful exhibition that I recently visited in Izmir, where you can hear many different instrumental sounds in your ears while you are visiting. Its name is “The Longing Within, Not Only for the Past, I Know”. The works in the exhibition are very strong examples of contemporary art in painting, sculpture, ceramics, installation and video art. Each one belongs to artists who have made a splash in Turkish and international art platforms. Sevgi Avcı, Vahap Avşar, Ramazan Bayrakoğlu, Telat Cengiz, Hatice Güleryüz, Esra Okyay, Leyla Dönmez Suveren, Oktay Şahinler, Esra Şakir, Mürüvvet Türkyılmaz, who studied art together at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylül University in the late 1980s and early 1990s. and Ekrem Yalçındağ, the exhibition focuses on memory and memory, with bridges built between the past and the present. It questions the volatile information and memory loss that is the result of the age of pleasure and speed we live in. Another aspect of the exhibition that impressed me is that the artists of the exhibition studied together at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dokuz Eylül University thirty years ago. In this context, the artistic efficiency of İzmir should be remembered again. These artists, who studied together thirty years ago, have now come together for this exhibition from all over the world. How precious. The idea for the exhibition belongs to Esra Okyay, the artist and founding director of "A Room of One's Own". In our conversations about the exhibition, she says she started dreaming about this idea three years ago. Happily, this beautiful dream came true and the exhibition met with art lovers from Izmir.

I visited the exhibition several times. I attended the conversation with Esra Okyay, Hayal İncedoğan, Vahap Avşar and Sevgi Avcı as speakers. Vahap Avşar and Sevgi Avcı talked about the education they received during their years at Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Fine Arts, the artistic practices they applied and the reflections of the education they received today. They talked about milestones in their lives as an artist. Especially for the young people, the interview was as inspiring and impressive as the exhibition. All the works in the exhibition are striking, of course, but the works of Esra Okyay, Ekrem Yalçındağ, Ramazan Bayrakoğlu, Sevgi Avcı and Vahap Avşar are among the ones that draw my attention the most.

The exhibition space is as impressive as the works. The Roof Open Art Space is a large exhibition area within the industry in Darağaç, İzmir. In addition to this area, different exhibition areas welcome the audience in the region. The works produced by newly graduated young artists in other fields on their search for different concepts, structures and forms are included. The wall paintings on the worn surfaces of historical buildings are very impressive with their different concepts and concepts. As you walk through the narrow streets, you can come across an installation at any time. Walking the streets is a pleasure in itself. Curated by Özgül Kılınçarslan and Nursaç Sargon, the exhibition titled "The Longing Within, Not Only for the Past, I Know", inspired by Marc Augé's book "Forgetting Ways", "What does it look like when we consider the life that goes back and forth between what we remember and what we forget as a narrative?" discussing the question. In this context, the exhibition, A Room of One's Own, at D.E.Ü. It came up with the idea of ​​creating an environment of encounter by bringing together newly graduated artists from the Faculty of Fine Arts with experienced artists who have graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts. A Room of One's Own (KABO), supported by the SAHA Association in 2021, can be viewed at the Roof Open Art Space between October 30 and December 31, 2021 with its exhibition titled "The Longing Within, Not Only for the Past, I Know". By watching the different productions of artists, you can open the doors of new perspectives in your mind.

Roof Open Art Space: Umurbey Mahallesi, 1512. Sok. No: 9, 35230 Konak / Izmir.

The exhibition can be visited between 13:00 and 19:00 except Sunday and Monday.