Local venue hosts an art show for all
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Funda Pakis
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 17, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Painter Selim Karadana’s latest exhibition ’Distored Shadows’ is on display at Yakup Meyhanesi, a frequent venue of local Beyoğlu’s local artists. This unusual venue reflects Karadana’s goal of opening the doors of art to the public.
Where words are insufficient, the innocent eye can detect the delightful manifestation of earthly beings on canvas at Selim Karadana’s recent exhibition, "Çarpık Gölgeler" (Distorted Shadows), taking place in Asmalımescit, Beyoğlu.The show is at Yakup Meyhanesi, a venue where the clientele are local Beyoğlu artists and art buffs. The tavern is mostly renowned for its selection of traditional Turkish food and drink.
Now there seems to be a better reason to discover or pay another visit to this location as it for the first time is hosting an exhibition. This unusual choice also reflects Karadana’s goal of opening the doors of art to the public.
Resembling shadows
When asked about the title of his venue, he claims his paintings resemble the many shadows, or false appearances, that society has adopted. The bands dominate most of his abstract work, changing color and shape as they seemingly descend to Earth. Cubic shapes and sharp edges mostly appear in blue, his favorite color.
That is not a surprise given his undying love for the sea and particularly the island of Bozcaada. As he lives on the island for part of the year, many of his works seem to illustrate the island’s natural life.
Logs from vineyards, a common sight in Bozcaada, appear to be a central element in his paintings. In another frame, a cute hedgehog duo presented with fiery red all around demonstrates a quiet passion that is normally not so apparent to the human eye.
The use of mixed media like mirrors and point touches of phosphorous are unique to Karadana’s work. While this chemical element shines in the dark, mirrors placed at various points on the painting aim to include the viewer in the canvas. While strolling through the gallery, originally designed as a restaurant, one cannot help notice an art piece that looks like a door that opens to a field. The opening is so skillfully illustrated that his figurative dexterity proves itself here.
Emerging from the darkness, one glimpses a wide-open field with olive trees in full daylight, resembling the light at the end of the tunnel: hope. The flywhisk before the doorway is cleverly decorated, again making use of mixed media. While the phosphorous shines at the connecting points of each strip, the mirror bands compose the fringes.
Karadana offers fresh insight to those already familiar with Turkish abstract painting and a passionate eye to novices. Besides his canvas art, writing poetry is another ambition for Karadana, who has been an artist and teacher nearly 30 years. If you visit, and you should, Yakup Tavern by the end of June, do not forget to take a copy of the exhibition catalogue, where you can also read his latest poems, which are full of his zest for life.
The exhibition is open through June 30 at Yakup-2 Restaurant, Asmalımescit Cad. 35/37, Tünel-Beyoğlu. Tel: 0212 249 2925
Now there seems to be a better reason to discover or pay another visit to this location as it for the first time is hosting an exhibition. This unusual choice also reflects Karadana’s goal of opening the doors of art to the public.
Resembling shadows
When asked about the title of his venue, he claims his paintings resemble the many shadows, or false appearances, that society has adopted. The bands dominate most of his abstract work, changing color and shape as they seemingly descend to Earth. Cubic shapes and sharp edges mostly appear in blue, his favorite color.
That is not a surprise given his undying love for the sea and particularly the island of Bozcaada. As he lives on the island for part of the year, many of his works seem to illustrate the island’s natural life.
Logs from vineyards, a common sight in Bozcaada, appear to be a central element in his paintings. In another frame, a cute hedgehog duo presented with fiery red all around demonstrates a quiet passion that is normally not so apparent to the human eye.
The use of mixed media like mirrors and point touches of phosphorous are unique to Karadana’s work. While this chemical element shines in the dark, mirrors placed at various points on the painting aim to include the viewer in the canvas. While strolling through the gallery, originally designed as a restaurant, one cannot help notice an art piece that looks like a door that opens to a field. The opening is so skillfully illustrated that his figurative dexterity proves itself here.
Emerging from the darkness, one glimpses a wide-open field with olive trees in full daylight, resembling the light at the end of the tunnel: hope. The flywhisk before the doorway is cleverly decorated, again making use of mixed media. While the phosphorous shines at the connecting points of each strip, the mirror bands compose the fringes.
Karadana offers fresh insight to those already familiar with Turkish abstract painting and a passionate eye to novices. Besides his canvas art, writing poetry is another ambition for Karadana, who has been an artist and teacher nearly 30 years. If you visit, and you should, Yakup Tavern by the end of June, do not forget to take a copy of the exhibition catalogue, where you can also read his latest poems, which are full of his zest for life.
The exhibition is open through June 30 at Yakup-2 Restaurant, Asmalımescit Cad. 35/37, Tünel-Beyoğlu. Tel: 0212 249 2925