Who is Işıl Dural? (1959-Ankara)
Born in Ankara in 1959, she graduated from the Painting Department of Gazi University’s Faculty of Vocational Education. She taught art at Maltepe Anatolian Vocational High School. She also worked as a lecturer in the Graphics Department at Yeditepe University Vocational School. She also attended Kasım Koçak’s studio. She has participated in thirteen solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions. She has exhibited in the 10th Şefik Bursalı Painting Competition, the Turkish Jockey Club Painting Competition, and the Trakya University Mail Art Competition. She has participated in numerous workshops and symposiums. In 2022, she illustrated the cover of Kıymet Erzincan Kına’s book “From Umay Anadan to Her Al Karısına: Those Who Came on Horseback and Remained on Foot.” She currently continues her work in her studio in Maltepe, Istanbul.
Art Perspective:
For me, theater and painting are life itself. I focus on urban life and the concept of madness with a figurative approach. Madness, excluded, stigmatized, or romanticized by social norms, transforms into a narrative in my works that questions the boundaries between normal and abnormal. The street, as a living space in my paintings, evolves into a scene bearing the traces of decay, where people, animals, and objects intermingle. This state of decay sometimes spreads in an invisible process, permeating the entire surface and integrating with the city and the individual. Using the suitcase metaphor, I explore themes of childhood and disunity, bringing together longing for the past with the alienation of the present. Train stations, worn shoes, and gray cityscapes form the visual memory of my collection. I convey all these contradictions to the viewer through diverse techniques that oscillate between surface smudges and detail.
Solo Exhibitions;
2025 "Madness: Beyond Borders", Evrim Art Gallery, Göztepe, Istanbul
2023 "Asymmetric Dreams", Evrim Art Gallery, Göztepe, Istanbul
2019 Kuytu Artline, Maltepe, Istanbul
2016 Ziraat Tünel Art Gallery, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
2014 Dream Traveler Art Stop, Caddebostan, Istanbul
2013 Dream Traveler Art Stop, Caddebostan, Istanbul
2011 Dream Traveler Art Stop, Caddebostan, Istanbul
2009 National Lottery Art Gallery, Ankara
1997 Dega Art Gallery, Suadiye, Istanbul
1997 İçel Art Club, Mersin
1996 BEKSAV, Kadıköy, Istanbul
1996 A Gallery, Nişantaşı,
Selections from Group Exhibitions;
2025 “Patchwork VII”, Gala Art Gallery, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
2025 “Antandros Painting Workshop” Exhibition, Edremit, Balıkesir
2025 “Body Language” Exhibition, ZibaArt Gallery, Nişantaşı, Istanbul
2025 “ArtContact Istanbul 5th International Contemporary Art Fair”, Evrim Art Gallery, Yenikapı, Istanbul
2024 Istanbul’s Polyphonic Neighborhood: Fener, Fener, Istanbul
2024 “From Anew With Hope - II”, Maltepe Municipality Prof. Dr. Türkan Saylan Cultural Center, Maltepe
2023 “Art - Opening Exhibition”, Kadıköy, Istanbul
2023 “Summer Group Painting Exhibition”, Evrim Art Gallery, Kadıköy, Istanbul
2023 “From Anew With Hope”, Maltepe Municipality Prof. Dr. Türkan Saylan Cultural Center, Maltepe, Istanbul
2023 “Online Solidarity Painting Exhibition,” Evrim Art Gallery
2023 “A Group of People, Thematic Group Exhibition,” Ankara Zafer Bazaar, Ankara
2022 “Pattern Mix,” Gala Gallery, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
2022 “Patchwork IV,” Gala Art Gallery, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
2022 “Patchwork III,” Gala Gallery, Bodrum Artfair, Bodrum, Muğla
2022 “Like a Movie,” Balaban Art Gallery, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
2021 “Return to Gaia,” Online, Trakya University
2021 “Patchwork II,” Balaban Art Gallery, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
2020 “One Hundred Portraits, One Hundred Painters,” ArtAnkara, Ankara
2020 “100 Portraits from Turkish Art History,” Constanta University, Romania
2020 ART ANKARA ART FAIR ORANGE BLOSSOM ART COLON
2019 “100 Portraits from Turkish Art History,” Trakya University, Edirne
2019 “TÜYAP Art Fair,” Beylikdüzü, Istanbul
2019 “Dialogue of Forms,” Adahan Gallery, Asmalımescit, Istanbul
2019 “BGI First Year Grand Exhibition,” Türkan Saylan Cultural Center, Maltepe, Istanbul
2019 ARTIST 2015 / 29TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL ART FAIR, Beylikdüzü, Istanbul
2017 Trakya University 1st International Mail Art Competition, İlhan Koman Museum, Edirne
2015 “TÜYAP Art Fair,” Beylikdüzü, Istanbul
2015 ARTIST 2015 / 25TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL ART FAIR, Düş Yolcusu Art Stop
2014 Turkey Jockey Club 10th Painting Competition Exhibition, Istanbul
2014 “Self-Portrait or Loneliness”, International Plastic Artists Association, Şişli, Istanbul
2013 “TÜYAP Art Fair”, Beylikdüzü, Istanbul
2013 ARTIST 2013 / 23rd INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL ART FAIR, Don Quixote Art, Istanbul
2012 Kozyatağı Cultural Center, Istanbul
2012 “Port Exhibition” Company, Hayriye Art Gallery, Istanbul
2012 Dream Traveler Art Stop, Istanbul
2011 Nevşehir University, 1st Nevşehir Nature Culture History Symposium Exhibition, Nevşehir
2010 10th Şefik Bursalı Painting Competition, Exhibition, CerModern, Ankara
2010 Dream Traveler Art Stop, Istanbul
2009 Cihangir Art Gallery, Istanbul
2008 Maltepe Art Gallery, Istanbul
2006 “Peace Exhibition” Nazım Hikmet Culture and Arts Foundation, Istanbul
2005 "Peace Exhibition" Nazım Hikmet Culture and Arts Foundation, Istanbul
2003 "5th Olive Festival", Zeytinli Municipality, Akçay, Balıkesir
2000 March 8 International Women's Day Exhibition, SASAV, Maltepe, Istanbul
1998 Halis Kurtça Art Gallery, Kadıköy, Istanbul
1997 Triada Art Cafe Maçka, Istanbul
1996 Maltepe Municipality Dr. Füsun Kahveci Exhibition Hall, Istanbul
1994 Maltepe Municipality Dr. Füsun Kahveci Exhibition Hall, Istanbul
Istanbul
1995 Dam Gallery, Teşvikiye, Istanbul
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