The silent cry of olive trees echoed on canvas with the brushstrokes of artist Şeyda Gürsoy Çoban. The artist presented her exhibition "Olive Hope" to art lovers at the Alaçatı Köstem Hotel to raise awareness of the dangers olive trees face.
Curated by Sibel Önbaş, known for her experience and meticulous attention, the exhibition emphasized the cultural, historical, and ecological significance of the olive tree, while the works comprising the collection were highly acclaimed for both their visual appeal and their message.
At the exhibition, which opened on Saturday, September 6th, artist Şeyda Gürsoy Çoban signed a book of her works, as well as her poems and paintings. Cellist Duru Eşmeoğlu also performed at the opening. The exhibition, which establishes a strong connection between art and nature, will continue until September 14th. The artist will donate from the sale of the paintings to the Tema Foundation, thus providing a lifeline for nature through art.
EXHIBITION CROWNED WITH POETRY AND CELLO
Celloist Duru Eşmeoğlu added color to the opening with her music, and verses written by the artist, along with the paintings, welcomed art lovers. Çoban's poem "You Are Dying," dated August 16, 2025, deepened the emotional dimension of the exhibition as an elegy written for an olive tree. The poem, which begins with the lines "Souls burned in your branches, souls burned in your roots, souls burned in your trunk," resonated strongly with visitors.
BOTH THE BEGINNING OF A PERSONAL RESISTANCE AND A NEW TURN IN HER ARTISTIC JOURNEY
Painter Şeyda Gürsoy Çoban, who aims to raise awareness through art, emphasized that she painted olives to protest the oppression of the olive tree, to draw attention to its protection, and to offer hope for the olive tree. She said, “During the construction of the Nuclear Power Plant in Akkuyu, when the olive groves were targeted, my wife and I bought olive groves one by one as a counter-protest. The area surrounding Akkuyu was filled with olive groves, ranging from 3, 5, to 23 hectares, and they were destroyed. So I started my olive series. This was both the beginning of a personal resistance and a new turning point in my artistic journey. I have been following the olive tree's path ever since.”
The artist stated that the olive tree symbolizes the continuity of life, saying, “In my paintings, the olive bears witness to both the past and the future. I try to portray resistance and hope in every canvas. I receive the greatest support from my wife, and I thank her very much.”
RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH ART
Çoban stated that his primary goal in preparing the exhibition was to draw attention to the threats facing nature, saying, “I want to protest the injustice done to the olive tree and raise awareness for its protection. The greatest power of art is its ability to touch human emotions. I hope that art lovers will see both beauty and fragility in this exhibition.”
A PIN FROM THE TEMA FOUNDATION
At the opening, Özcan Gökoğlu, the İzmir Representative of the Tema Foundation, presented the artist with a pin, expressing his appreciation for his environmental sensitivity. Gökoğlu said, “It is very valuable that art creates a unifying voice for nature. This exhibition reminds us that the olive tree is not only an agricultural asset but also a cultural asset.”
AN ARTISTIC JOURNEY FROM ISTANBUL TO ITALY
Born in Samsun in 1953 and graduating from the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts' Department of Painting in 1979 from Prof. Dr. Adnan Çoker's studio, artist Şeyda Gürsoy Çoban opened her first exhibition in Istanbul in 1996. Having held 17 solo exhibitions to date, the artist has also participated in numerous group exhibitions. She has held solo exhibitions in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Bursa, and Samsun, as well as in Italy. She has met with art lovers at prominent venues such as Akbank Art Gallery, Artshow, Art Bosphorus, and the Reggio Emilia Art Fair. In recent years, Çoban has drawn particular attention with her olive-themed works. She demonstrated a similar environmental awareness in her exhibitions "Don't Touch My Olive" (2022, Bodrum) and "Olive" (2022, Urla Köstem Olive Oil Museum). The artist continues to work in her studio in Bodrum.
CANVAS ARE SYMBOLS OF RESISTANCE AND HOPE
Curator Sibel Önbaş, who brings art together with social awareness, said, “Çoban’s canvases are symbols of resistance against the destruction of the olive tree, as well as hope. In each work, the olive tree’s trunk, leaves, and fruit appear as carriers not only of nature but also of life, culture, and memory. In this respect, the exhibition is an example of how art can be combined with social responsibility.”
Fulya OMAÇ / Alaçatı, İzmir
Source: https://www.aydin24haber.com/zeytine-sanatla-cansuyu-seyda-gursoy-cobandan-zeytine-umut-sergisi-877591h.htm