Medya Sanat Gallery is hosting the "From Past to Present" exhibition. The exhibition, featuring paintings and sculptures by artists Suna Özkalan and Filiz Onat, opened to a large turnout.
The exhibition, featuring numerous sculptures and paintings of varying sizes and themes, showcases both the creative power of female artists and the shared artistic heritage of two generations.
Filiz Onat, whom we met at the opening ceremony, spoke to our newspaper about her work. Onat explained that her mother, Suna Özkalan, began her painting journey at the Turkish American Cultural Association, saying:
“My mother was born in 1936. She began painting at the Turkish American Association when she was 25. Later, she and her female painter friends founded the Altılar Group. This group of six women worked together for a long time. For years, my mother created small sculptures alongside her paintings. She even received awards for this art. Now 89, she still creates at least two paintings every day. In recent years, she has been working with acrylic paint.”
Onat explained that Özkalan had been inspired by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) concerts for years, saying, “She started attending CSO rehearsals and sketching the orchestra members. She has maintained this habit for 40 years.”
“Architecture was a path intertwined with art”
Born in 1953, Filiz Onat graduated from the Department of Architecture at the Ankara State Academy of Architecture and Engineering. He described his artistic journey, which began in the late 1960s with painting classes at the Turkish American Cultural Association, as follows:
“My first exhibition opened in 1978 at the French Cultural Association. My first paintings were flower-themed. I also had landscapes painted on the Blue Voyage. I discovered sculpture in 1985 and fell in love with it. I've been working alongside painting and sculpture ever since. My identity as an architect has always nourished my painting and sculpture. I practiced architecture as a profession, but art has always been at the forefront for me.”
The artist explained that he continues to work on sculpture, which he began in 1985:
“When I started sculpting, it wasn't easy to cast my bronzes, but thanks to my supportive friends, I was able to produce. One of my works was selected for exhibition in a competition held by the State Museum of Painting and Sculpture in 2023. I primarily work with human silhouettes and abstract forms in my sculptures and paintings.”
“I seek light for humanity with the series ‘Journey to Hope’”
A series titled ‘Journey to Hope’ stands out among the artist's recent works. Onat described this series as follows:
“I envisioned a world where people hold hands again and find light together. With this in mind, I began creating the paintings I call ‘Journey to Hope.’ I interpret the same theme in different ways in my sculptures. I continue to create with the hope that one day we will truly reach that light.”
The exhibition "From Past to Present," which brings together the artists' artistic journeys spanning many years under one roof, will be open to the public until Wednesday, November 12th at the Medya Sanat Gallery (Address: Çankaya, Üsküp Cd. No:35, Ankara).
Who is Suna Özkalan?
She was born in Kayseri in 1936. She took painting lessons from Refik Epikman at the Turkish-American Association in 1965, and from Lütfü Günay in later years. She held numerous exhibitions with the "Six Group," which they founded during the same period.
A member of the United Painters and Sculptors Association (BRHD), the Ankara Women Painters Association (AKRD), and the Six Group, the painter often uses orchestral themes in her works.
Özkalan, who has held numerous solo exhibitions throughout her artistic career, received the DYO Painting Competition Achievement Award, the UNESCO 35 Years Old Competition for "exhibition," and the Ankara Art Magazine's "small sculpture" and "engraving" awards in its competition.
Who is Filiz Onat?
Born in Ankara in 1953, Onat graduated from the Ankara State Academy of Architecture and Engineering's Department of Architecture in 1975. The artist, who has been painting since 1968 and sculpting since 1985, took painting lessons from Lütfü Günay at the Turkish-American Cultural Association between 1966 and 1968. In 1978, she held her first solo exhibition at the French Cultural Association.
Since 1978, she has held nearly 50 joint and solo exhibitions, some with her mother, painter Suna Özkalan. In 2019, the artist exhibited her works at the Art Gallery Boris Georgiev in Varna and the Metropolitan Art Gallery in Tokyo.
The artist, who currently practices architecture, continues his painting and sculpture work in Ankara.
He has participated in the Efes and Art Ankara art fairs in Turkey, and the Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair abroad. He also exhibited in the sculpture category in the 2023 State Painting and Sculpture Competition.
Source: https://www.24saatgazetesi.com/gecmisten-bugune-sanatin-iki-kusagi-ayni-sergide