Özer Kabaş's exhibition 'Overseas' is open at Salt Beyoğlu until March 14, 2027...
The exhibition 'Overseas: Özer Kabaş and His Times'—which examines the body of work produced by Özer Kabaş from the 1960s through the 1990s—has opened at Salt Beyoğlu. The exhibition will be open to visitors until March 14, 2027; the first event in the accompanying program will take place on September 30 with the participation of Cevat Çapan.
'Overseas: Özer Kabaş and His Times,' an exhibition exploring works ranging from painting and cinema to theater and design, has opened at Salt Beyoğlu. Focusing on the output of artist, educator, and writer Özer Kabaş between the 1960s and the 1990s, the exhibition will remain open until March 14, 2027.
'Overseas: Özer Kabaş and His Times'—the latest exhibition by Salt, an institution founded by Garanti BBVA—examines Özer Kabaş's (1934–1998) place in Türkiye's cultural history. Curated by Tuğçe Kaplan and Vasıf Kortun, the exhibition explores Kabaş's perspective on the relationship between local visual culture and the global art scene through concepts he developed in his writings, such as "synthesis," "montage," and "horizontal and vertical influences." In addition to his paintings, the exhibition features jewelry designs created at the Urart Art Workshop—which he co-founded—as well as his short films and texts.
EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SEA, LABOR, AND PEOPLE
From the 1970s onwards, Kabaş focused his work on the relationship between the sea, labor, and people. Rejecting linear perspective in favor of layering images and enveloping them in nature, the artist—in works depicting maritime laborers—treated the sea as a living entity that surrounds the figures.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TO ACCOMPANY THE EXHIBITION
A series of events, including talks, screenings, and panels, will be held in conjunction with the exhibition. The first of these public programs will take place on Wednesday, September 30, at 18:30 at the Open Cinema in Salt Beyoğlu, featuring speaker, poet, and translator Cevat Çapan.
Speaking about the exhibition, Tuğçe Kaplan said, "The exhibition is the outcome of a long-term archival and research process regarding Özer Kabaş that we conducted as Salt. In 2022, we worked on the artist's archive and made it accessible online. Subsequently, we compiled his writings on art and published a book titled *Synthesis and Montage: Writings by Özer Kabaş*. With this exhibition, we aimed to take a more comprehensive look at Özer Kabaş's practice following this entire research process. Kabaş has secured a place in art history—particularly from the mid-1970s onwards—through his paintings of the sea. The exhibition's title, *Overseas* [Denizaşırı], makes a direct reference to the sea while also pointing to Kabaş's work in the fields of cinema, design, and craft." Regarding Kabaş's educational and academic life, Kaplan stated, "Kabaş completed his high school education at Robert College. Later, he graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Robert College Higher Education—which is known today as Boğaziçi University. Subsequently, he pursued art education at the Yale School of Art in the United States. There, he was introduced to the Bauhaus movement and became a student of Josef Albers. Upon returning to Türkiye, he joined the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts on a part-time basis and began teaching at the Department of Basic Art Education.
It is fair to say that he applied the Bauhaus approach within this department. In the exhibition, we aim to present a comprehensive view of Kabaş's creative output and the relationships he forged with individuals and institutions throughout his journey—spanning his years at the college and Yale, his time at Boğaziçi University and the Academy, and finally Mimar Sinan University, following its renaming in 1982."
'WORKS DEVELOPED ON MARMARA ISLAND ARE FEATURED'
Noting that the exhibition also includes the artist's early works, Kaplan said, "We have a section in the exhibition that we have designated as 'Social Satire.' This section houses Kabaş's early paintings, mostly dating back to the 1960s. When curating the maritime section, we grouped his paintings—which focus particularly on fishermen and dockworkers along the coasts of Istanbul, the Bosphorus, and the Black Sea—under the theme of 'Labor.' Marmara Island also holds a significant place in the artist's life; we have dedicated a specific area to the paintings he developed there. Mythological figures sometimes appear alongside these seascapes.
" 'THE PROCESS BEGAN WITH ARCHIVAL AND RESEARCH WORK'
Describing the process behind the exhibition's creation, Kaplan said, "This process began with archival and research work. We didn't actually set out with the specific goal of 'putting on an exhibition'; rather, I would say this reflects Salt's general approach. There was a particular issue at hand: Özer Kabaş was a figure who had been overshadowed and viewed from a limited perspective, particularly in art history narratives. As we delved deeper—starting with his archive—we were thrilled by the sheer breadth of his creative output. He was a beloved figure who played an active role in the cultural sphere and mentored many artists. You could say that mentioning Özer Kabaş’s name opened doors for us." Providing details on the accompanying programming, Kaplan added, "Our public program series kicks off on September 30. The first event will feature Cevat Çapan, whose acquaintance with Kabaş dates back to their days at Robert College. The exhibition will run until March 14, 2027. Throughout this period, we will organize numerous programs and screenings centered on the artistic practices of Kabaş that we aim to explore in this exhibition."
Source: https://www.sondakika.com/amp/haber-ozer-kabas-in-denizasiri-sergisi-salt-beyoglu-nda--20242102/