Heidi Trautmann

515 - Cyprus in Izmir - Alashia Art Group - 17 TRNC artists at the International Izmir Art Biennale
5/29/2013

 

By Heidi Trautmann

 

Alashia – the oldest name for Cyprus, city kingdom of Cyprus – around 1500 BC mentioned in old Syrian and Egyptian trade documents. Alashia, under this image of a name 17 Cypriot artists travelled to Izmir, under the curatorship of Ayhatun Atesin, ceramic artist, and with the financial blessing and good words by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture, to have a group  exhibition within the framework of the grand 2nd International Izmir Art Biennale in May 2013.

The artists participating were in the order of alphabet Aşik Mene, Ayhatun Ateşin, Emel Samioğlu, Emin Çizenel, Eser Keçeci, Feridun Işıman, Gamze Anil Baykan, Gökçe Keçeci  Şekeroğlu, Güner Pir, Hikmet Uluçam Ilkay Ensoy, Inci Kansu, Ismet Tatar, Mustafa Öztunç, Özge Refik Kutsay, Pembe Gaziler, Ruhiye Onurel (Ros). A very good and interesting mélange.

The paper artists Inci Kansu, Ismet Tatar and Emel Samioğlu had also taken part in the grand Biennale exhibition on the fairgrounds and among themselves they had a spacious area for the display of their art works. Just three days before these three artists had also participated in a paper art exhibition in Kayseri organized by a Turkish paper artist on the premises of the university. They do get around, our artists.

 

It was a grand event again, the Art Biennale, an event organized by Seba Art Gallery, i.e. the artist Seba Ugurtan, a woman of power and determination. The opening was end of April starting with eight separate exhibitions in eight different ‘art temples’ of the city, among them our Alashia Art Group. The most important supporters of the important event were the Govenor of Izmir, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Museum of Art and Sculpture, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Ege University.

Seba Ugurtan’s idea was to bring together artists from different countries to express their cultural values by the common language of art and in return encounter the beauty of Turkey and its history and hospitality. Over 400 artists from 58 countries were selected by the jury out of 1600 artists from 58 different countries who have applied to participate at the 2nd International Biennial of Izmir. The spaces available at the International fairgrounds this year were generously planned and looked more like exhibition halls than in the first year for the display of paintings, performance, original printing, sculpture, graphic design, photography, installation, ebru, digital art, tile and glass video art, illumination, textile, ceramic, 1700 artworks altogether. A heavy catalogue of around 5 kg was the resulting proof of the event.

Ismet Tatar gave me not only the details such as photos and a catalogue but also her impressions. “Everything was well organized from the opening ceremonies, advertising, to the last meeting and dinner for the participants and the presentation of the first prize which went to an Indian artist.”

I would like to conclude with some words of Seba Ugurtan’s vision:

‘Our aim for the 2nd International Biennial of Izmir was to tell how important the connective power of art is. The artists are the best models for the presentation of different ideas and thoughts without being destructive and harsh. They explicate that people should respect each other’s personality. This is the only language to achieve being a human, those who understand and want to understand, those who listen to art and the artist, know how short life is and how perfect as possible it should be spent.’

 


Emel Samioglu and her works
Emel Samioglu and her works


Inci Kansu, Güner Pir, Ismet Tatar, Nurcan Namsoy(TRNC Cultural Dept.), Emel Samioglu and Hikmet Ulucam at Izmir Art Biennale
Inci Kansu, Güner Pir, Ismet Tatar, Nurcan Namsoy(TRNC Cultural Dept.), Emel Samioglu and Hikmet Ulucam at Izmir Art Biennale


Our paper artists at Kayseri University
Our paper artists at Kayseri University


Ruhiye Onurel (Roş)
Ruhiye Onurel (Roş)


Pembe Gaziler
Pembe Gaziler


Özge Refik Kutsay
Özge Refik Kutsay


Emel Samioğlu
Emel Samioğlu


Hikmet Uluçam
Hikmet Uluçam


Ismet Tatar
Ismet Tatar


Mustafa Öztunç
Mustafa Öztunç


Inci Kansu
Inci Kansu


Ilkay Önsöy
Ilkay Önsöy


Güner Pir
Güner Pir


Gökçe Şekeroğlu
Gökçe Şekeroğlu


Gamze Anil Baykan
Gamze Anil Baykan


Feridun Işıman
Feridun Işıman


Eser Keçeci
Eser Keçeci


Emin Çizenel
Emin Çizenel


Ayhatun Ateşin
Ayhatun Ateşin


Aşık Mene
Aşık Mene






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