In the 31st year of its establishment, EKAV / Education Culture and Research Foundation continues to support art education in Turkey by giving scholarships to students studying in the Fine Arts departments of universities and succeeding in different disciplines. The "EKAV-ARTIST New Generation 7" exhibition, which was held for the seventh time this year, "turn back, my cold" | Under the name of “transformation”, it brings together 19 new generation artists at Ekavart Gallery under the curatorship of Haydar Akdağ. Aybike Keskin, Ceyhun Topçu, Çiğdem Yıldırım, Dilara Mataracı, Doruk Paksoy, Durmuş Bahar, Elara Esmer, Emrah Önal, Ferhad Salman, Funda Alkan, Handan Akarsu, Melike Kılıç, Mert Çılmazkaya, Muzaffer Tuncer, Özge Kahraman, Özge Tan, Sesil There are works by artists such as Beatris Kalaycıyan, Sevda Alat and Şerife Gül Çakmak.

 

From the academic staff of Istanbul Gelişim University, Graphic Design Department, Res. Assist. Dilara Mataracı takes part in the exhibition with her works that make us think about the concept of “Body”.

 

Mataracı describes the conceptual background of his works in the exhibition with the following words:

 

"Today, the body turns into a constantly changing consumer object with the touch of modern technology and science in pursuit of ideal beauty. The works produced in this context are also a testing ground where the process of transforming the body into an ideal body, which is considered as a never-ending project, is examined together with its space. In the series, in which traditional materials such as oil paint and paper are used, the figures are depicted while doing sports in gyms or just after. The series points out the problem that the body, which develops as a result of activities such as fitness, is interpreted as a manifestation of power, and its possible beneficial effects are ignored and turned into only image-oriented sports. Examining the bodies of the fitness movement in self-discipline and self-denial that serve capitalist states, it reminds us of Foucault's defense that the idea of empowerment in the meticulously manufactured individual masks power itself. On the other hand, it targets the urbanites who fill the gyms with the idea of "slimming until the summer, wearing bikinis and swimsuits, and having perfect, fit body measurements", which is created by the fact that fashion forces perceptions to look perfect through the media."

 

EKAV - ARTIST New Generation 7 “turn back, my cold” Group Exhibition can be seen at Ekav Art Gallery Beyoğlu until February 10, 2023.

 

As Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Faculty of Fine Arts (GSF),  We congratulate Research Assistant Dilara Mataracı and wish her continued success.