On Saturday, August 30th, Özgür Manici Art, located in the Konyaaltı Öğretmenevleri neighborhood of Antalya, will host a comprehensive retrospective of master painter and printmaker İsmail İlhan, who worked between 1961 and 2008.
The exhibition presents selected works from the artist's solo exhibitions, thesis studies, and rare original prints in chronological order. Throughout the summer, Özgür Manici Art Gallery will offer visitors the opportunity to follow İlhan's gradual transition from his youthful work to the mature phase of his later years.
THE ARTIST'S JOURNEY AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Born in Yozgat, İsmail İlhan graduated from the Painting Department of Hacettepe University's Faculty of Fine Arts in 1989. Two years later, he became a research assistant at the same faculty. In 1993, he made his name with his master's thesis, "Plastic Analysis of Garbage Dump Objects."
His 1995 proposal, "A Plastic Analysis of Piri Reis Maps," pioneered the interdisciplinary trends of the period. He successfully completed the Proficiency in Art program in 1999 and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2000. During his teaching career at Yeditepe University, he brought his plastic arts approach to both classrooms and studios.
AWARDS AND INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS
Between 1989 and 1998, İsmail İlhan received awards in printmaking and painting at the DYO and State Painting and Sculpture competitions. He received consecutive honorable mentions and first prizes in the Mevlana Painting Competition. He won second prize at the Ex Libris Biennial in Italy.
In 1993, he further strengthened his international experience with a research trip to Spain, including visits to the Prado, Picasso, and Miro museums. In addition to these achievements, his works include: His works are featured in the Ankara Painting and Sculpture Museum, the IMOGA Museum in Istanbul, the Anadolu University Contemporary Arts Museum, and the Marmara University Original Print Collection. His series, also held in numerous private collections, symbolize his innovative approach to printmaking.
THE EXHIBITION IS ORGANIZED UNDER FIVE MAIN TOPICS
The artist, who passed away in 2008, will renew his place in history with this exhibition at the Özgür Manici Art Gallery.
The exhibition explores İsmail İlhan's career under five main headings:
Youth Experiments (1985–1990): The search for raw form in his first prints and canvases
Trash Objects and Social Criticism (1991–1994): A series that reveals his plastic analysis approach
Map and Memory (1995–1999): Works themed around Piri Reis and the relationship between geography and art
Academic Maturity (2000–2005): Workshop experiments from a productive period in higher education
Recent Years (2006–2008): Print series and multilayered canvas paintings that serve as artistic farewells
OPENING EVENTS AND AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE
The opening reception, to be held on August 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM, will begin with a presentation on the artist's life and works. Following this, a tour of the exhibition will be held with the curator. The exhibition includes detailed explanations of classical printmaking techniques. The opening will also be attended by the artist's wife, Berrin İlhan, who also lives in Antalya.
Retrospective exhibitions have the power to holistically demonstrate an artist's evolution and lead the viewer on a chronological journey through his works. İsmail İlhan's prolific life transcends biographical narratives in plastic arts, presenting a profound panorama that considers matter and maps as objects of thought. Through this retrospective, art lovers in Antalya will gain a deeper understanding of a local artist's national and international context and witness the universal language of printmaking.
The exhibition will be open daily from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM from August 30 to November 30, 2025, at the Özgür Manici Art Gallery and Workshop in Konyaaltı Öğretmenevleri Mahallesi.
Source: https://www.antalyagundem.com.tr/ismail-ilhanin-retrospektif-sergisi-antalyalilari-sanata-doyuracak