Author
Who is Merve Polatdemir? (2001-Kayseri)Merve Polatdemir was born in Kayseri in 2001. Between 2015 and 2019, she studied Graphic Design and Photography at Kocasinan Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and completed her internship at Talha Color Photography. Between 2019 and 2023, she graduated from Erciyes University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting with a GPA of 3.41/4. In 2024, she completed her pedagogical training and interned at Fatma Kemal Timuçin Anatolian High School. She worked as an art educator in the Deneyim Sanat Workshop team. She gave private painting lessons in Kayseri and produced works as a painter at Nihal Design Art Gallery. She married in 2026 and continues her work in Ankara.Art Perspective:In my art practice, the room is not only a physical space; it is a metaphor for the human mind, memory, and inner world. In each of my works, I invite the viewer into a closed but layered universe. These rooms are silent witnesses to the complex relationships an individual has with themselves, technology, society, and their memories.In my works, I often establish a psychological connection between figure, object, and space. Old televisions, Legos, Rubik’s Cubes, windows, birds, and fragmented objects are not merely visual details; they serve as symbols representing the fragmented memory of modern man, the alienating effects of the digital age, and the search for belonging. The repetitive room arrangements, in particular, create a space reflecting the individual’s mental confinement and simultaneously their desire for escape.In my use of color, I prefer broken, blended colors that convey a sense of time, rather than bright and pure tones. This approach creates a nostalgic yet unsettling atmosphere in my works. The light I use in interior spaces is not merely a technical element; it occupies a central place in the composition as a symbol of hope, awareness, and inner searching.In my art, I strive to strike a balance between reality and metaphor. My figures are often alone, thoughtful, or integrated with the objects around them. This situation illustrates how, despite appearing interconnected within digital networks, contemporary humans are becoming increasingly emotionally isolated. I bring together concepts of childhood, technology, and identity, particularly through pixelated surfaces, fragmented forms, and play objects.The layered and slow structure of the oil painting technique supports the psychological intensity I wish to convey. Each layer finds its place on the surface like a mental trace or a repressed memory. My aim is not merely to create a scene; it is to create atmospheres where the viewer can connect with their own inner world, wander among symbols, and discover a new detail with each glance.Exhibitions; • May 17, 2023 – Centennial Youth Exhibition • July 24, 2023 – Graduation Exhibition • October 23, 2023 – 100th Anniversary Exlibris Week Atatürk and Republic Exhibition • September 16, 2023 – Fresh Ankara 2nd Contemporary Art Exhibition (Exhibition Award) • January 26, 2024 – 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey Painting Competition (Exhibition Award) • March 21, 2024 – Bazaart Project 13th Exhibition • October 26, 2024 – Young Faces of the Republic Exhibition • December 6, 2024 – Minipaint-3 • December 21, 2024 – Young Faces of the Republic Ankara Exhibition • February 23, 2025 – The Power of Narratives: Women's Cries Exhibition • March 8, 2025 – Women and Colors Exhibition • 13 March 2025 – Bazaart Project 14th Exhibition • October 25, 2025 – Orange Blossom Republic Exhibition • December 11, 2025 – So Selection Bosphorus Exhibition • December 13, 2025 – Small Art 16 Exhibition • May 12, 2026 – This Burden Is Heavy For All of Us Group Exhibition • May 17, 2026 – The Space That Has Not Yet Existed Kadıköy Exhibition