–Could you tell us about yourself?
I am a faculty member at the Altınbaş University Department of Core Courses and a professor. I have curated numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally. My recent projects include Moonraker, Anita Taylor’s solo exhibition (2024, Vision Art Platform, Istanbul); Journey to the Slope, Ahmet Rüstem & Hakan Sorar’s solo exhibition (2024, Vision Art Platform, Istanbul); and A Dream Unfolds, Aida Mahmudova’s solo exhibition (2024, Vision Art Platform, Istanbul).
In previous years, I contributed to group exhibitions such as Multifaceted (2022, Yarat, Baku, Azerbaijan); Other Urban Orders, Sophia Grancharova’s solo exhibition (2022, ICA, Sofia); Site Lines, an international traveling exhibition (2022, Istanbul, Dundee, Barcelona); and The 6th International Istanbul Biennial for Children and Youth (2022, Istanbul). Notable earlier exhibitions include Unforgettable Future, Krassimir Terziev’s solo show (2019, Versus Art Projects, Istanbul).
I have curated the 3rd Çanakkale Biennial, the 3rd and 4th International Mardin Biennials, and the 1st Mediterranean Biennial. I have contributed to art magazines such as Sanat Dünyamız, Genç Sanat, Art-İst Modern & Actual, ICE, ARTAM, Art Unlimited, Critical Culture, RH+, Istanbul Art News, Artdog Istanbul, Varlık, and Flash Art, as well as to newspapers like Birgün, Cumhuriyet, and SOL.
My research on art and art education has been presented at national and international symposiums and published as book chapters. I have also given talks and conducted workshops at Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Moda Sahnesi, Atelier Maçka, Narmanlı Sanat, Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center, and Istanbul Bilgi University. Additionally, I am a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA).
–Which museum would you have liked to direct?
The MAXXI in Rome.
–Which artist would you have liked to curate?
Joseph Beuys.
–Which artwork would you most like to own?
Works from the Fluxus movement.
–Which period or movement in art history do you find most fascinating?
The 1960s and the Fluxus movement.
–What factors do you prioritize when evaluating a work of art?
Concept and form.
–What are your thoughts on public art installations? Do they enrich communities, or do they risk becoming mere tourist attractions?
Their contribution depends on their structure. If overly decorative, they risk becoming mere attractions.
–Do you think artificial intelligence will ever compete with human creativity?
Not yet.
–What makes an artwork “important” to you?
Its impact within its historical momentum.
–How significant is an emotional reaction in evaluating art? Should art primarily evoke emotions or provoke intellectual discourse?
It’s impossible to separate the two.
–Can you share a recent artwork or artist that has caught your attention?
Ivan Navarro and his experiments with light.
–Which contemporary artists do you find particularly compelling?
Moataz Nasr.
–Which major figures in art history do you find most inspiring?
Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani, Miro.
–What are some common misconceptions or myths in art history?
The risk of over-interpretation.
–What is your view on artists repeatedly producing signature works?
It becomes their hallmark.
–Are the artist and their art inseparable? Does the artist’s character matter in their work?
The artist’s character is undoubtedly important; they cannot be seen as separate from their creations.
–What advice would you give to parents of talented children interested in art?
Support them as soon as they discover their potential.
–Do you think curation is adequately practiced in our country?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
–What are the main challenges faced by contemporary art and artists?
The pressures of rampant capitalism and the art market.
–What advice would you give collectors as an art historian?
Specialize in a particular period or field.
–Do you believe the way artworks are exhibited affects viewers?
Absolutely.
–Which artworks or artists in art history caused major controversies or shocked audiences?
- Guernica by Picasso
- Sweeping Up by Joseph Beuys
- Luncheon on the Grass by Édouard Manet
- Fountain by Marcel Duchamp
–What is your opinion of activists damaging cultural heritage artworks to attract attention?
It is vandalism and reflects misguided protest efforts.
–Do you think most collectors are knowledgeable about the artworks they acquire?
Some are, others are not.
–What has been the most memorable moment or experience of your career?
The Museum Within a Museum exhibition at Elgiz Museum in 2012.
–Which art movement do you think will gain the most attention in the future, and why?
Digital art, as it aligns with the visual realities of our era.
–What do you consider the most pivotal moment in art history?
Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain.
–Which often-overlooked artists do you think have significantly influenced art history?
Van Gogh stands out as a key example.
–What are the most common misconceptions about art history?
The belief that it is solely limited to art writing.
–What topics in art history do you think will take center stage in the future?
Digital museums and digital libraries.
–Which artists’ life stories do you find more intriguing than their works?
Arthur Cravan and Bas Jan Ader.
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