Lütfü Kaplanoğlu's "Traces of Memory" exhibition explores the concepts of memory and time in London.
The London Yunus Emre Institute is pleased to present Professor Dr. Lütfü Kaplanoğlu's solo exhibition titled "Traces of Memory." Curated by Yaman Pakdil, the exhibition opened on January 19, 2026, at the Yunus Emre Institute Gallery and will be open to visitors until February 6, 2026. Kaplanoğlu translates images reflecting his childhood from the geography of his time into paintings through alternative, multi-layered, textured surfaces with high color intensity, representing a healing aspect of nature. These superimposed surfaces create a visual language that provides a cross-section of meaning, allowing for multiple readings where everything is reopened in a fixed way. The figures in the artist's paintings are always positioned with their backs turned. Instead of assigning a specific identity or narrative to the figure, these elements create an open space of representation that brings the viewer closer to a universal human experience. The relationship between the figure and the ground reveals that the piece is separated and appears to accumulate over time.
The exhibition "Traces of Memories" questions the alienation of contemporary man from his inner rhythm through concrete surfaces, artificial environments, and current life practices that replace nature. Kaplanoğlu's paintings treat nature not merely as a background, but as a space for reflection that allows for a reciprocal energy exchange between man and nature.
The exhibition, held at the Yunus Emre Institute Gallery in London, presents a special selection of the artist's recent works, inviting a re-reading of the intensity between memory, nature, and humanity at an interdisciplinary pace. The curatorial framework, which treats memory as a flexible and transformative material over time, also includes an installation titled "Memory Wall."
Visitors are invited to express themselves with a single word, using the words evoked by the works themselves. Thus, the exhibition, overflowing with the exhaustion of the volume of paintings, transforms into a collective emotional recording space.
The opening reception on Monday, January 19, 2026, brought together numerous figures from London's art and culture circles. At the opening, the First Class Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in London, Ambassador Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Ulusoy, the Director of the London Yunus Emre Institute, Dr. Mehmet Karakuş, and the exhibition curator, Yaman Pakdil, gave speeches. The event was attended by artists, curators, cultural figures, and representatives from international art and diaspora communities. All works in the "Traces of Memory" exhibition are for sale. Visitors can view the exhibition free of charge during gallery visiting hours; there is also the possibility of meeting with the artist and curator at the gallery on certain dates.
"Traces of Memory" invites us to explore how memory is formed, carried, and sustained throughout life; it reminds us that lasting traces are often those that cannot be directly expressed.
TRACES OF MEMORY (Traces of Memory)
Artist: Prof. Dr. Lütfü Kaplanoğlu
Curator: Yaman Pakdil (GOYA Art)
Venue: Yunus Emre Institute Gallery, 10 Maple Street, London W1T 5HA
Dates: January 19 – February 6, 2026
Admission: Free
Visiting Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00–18:00
NOTE:
The Yunus Emre Institute is a cultural institution of the Republic of Turkey. It was established in 2007. The Institute operates in more than 90 centers worldwide. Through cultural diplomacy, it promotes Turkish culture, supports the development of the Turkish language, and enhances improvement in the fields of art, culture, science, and education internationally. In 2010, the London Yunus Emre Institute began its activities in London, actively contributing to strengthening the cultural differences between Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Contact: Tel: 020 7387 3036 Email: londra@yee.org.tr Address: 10 Maple Street, London W1T 5HA
Website: http://yeelondon.org.uk Social Media: @yeelondra
Partnership: @goyaartcommunity, @Artmahalllondon