Derya Bardakcı

Who is Derya Bardakcı? (1984-Denizli)

She was born in 1984 in the Gümüşdere village of Tavas district of Denizli. She started her art education at Akdeniz University Faculty of Fine Arts at the age of 17. She was trained as an oil painter while she was a university student. However, she could not find her artistic excitement until she discovered the magical world of watercolor. In addition to watercolor, she used many paints such as water-based oil paint, acrylic, pastel and created her own style with mixed techniques. Finally, she started to gain a fan base with her collage works organized with historical documents.

She completed her art education in the painting department of Akdeniz University Faculty of Fine Arts between 2002-2006. During her education, she took part in the studio of Azeri painter Serhad Rzaev and developed her style.

Art Perspective;
My art practice is a journey that explores the invisible boundaries between the inner world of a person and society.
In my watercolor series titled “Psychological Shelters”; I question the psychological effects of colors and the spiritual depths of the individual through the relationship they establish with social structures. The effect of color on memory, emotion and mental states is not only an aesthetic tool for me, but also an intellectual tool.

Although I received my education in oil painting, over time I realized that this technique offered me a limited field of expression. The transparency, fluidity and unpredictable nature of watercolor became the most accurate language to reflect the human psychology, which is both fragile and resistant. I prefer abstract and non-figurative narratives, mixed media and collage works; because these methods offer me a more layered, freer expression.

In my series called “Time Travelers”, I follow the traces of memory, time and transformation by working with old documents that carry the traces of the past. These collages build a bridge between historical pieces and personal narratives. For me, art is both an individual confrontation and a way of rebuilding collective memory. I have a protesting and expressive stance; I see my art not only as an aesthetic production, but also as a way of creating stance and awareness. My work on social responsibility projects, climate crisis, ecological issues and sustainable living is an inseparable part of this stance.

Art is not a fixed definition for me, it is a process that constantly transforms, develops and recreates itself. Each new work is a step that is thought over the previous one; an effort that tries to go deeper every day.