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    GÖZDE İLKIN

    Portrait-Gozde-GILKIN-23-PARIS-B

    Gözde İlkin works on found domestic fabrics such as tablecloths, curtains, bed sheets, etc. that are representative of social identity, and social processes and that have become objects of memory. Her motifs and drawings on fabrics depict today’s cultural information, political and social relationships, and gender issues. As materials, first-hand fabrics and motifs keep different memory of the lives in daily use, bringing the main questions about getting around like roots under the feeling of belonging.

    Recently, Ilkin has started to design fabrics as a stage that she could inhabit via drawing, stitching, and sound. Sound, visual material, and texts she writes constitute the main forms of her works. She thinks about experiences, movement, and affect, about concepts building on to multi- disiplinary coexisting when she designs her forms. Ilkin traces nature to discover ways of belonging. Her forms that are inspired by the nature track the healing and transforming effects through plants, animals, and humans drawn closer together.

    Gözde İlkin was born 1981 in Kütahya, Turkey, now she works and lives in Istanbul. She studied painting at the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts and obtained a master’s degree at Istanbul’s Marmara University. Her solo exhibitions include Entrusted Ground, artSümer, Istanbul (2022); Comme les racines parlent, les fissures se creusent, MAC VAL, Vitry-sur-Seine (2019); her group exhibitions include UnNatural History, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, United Kingdom (2021) and Gaia has a Thousand names, Elgiz Museum, Istanbul (2019). She was a part of the 4th Autostrada Biennial in Kosovo (2023), the 13th Gwangju Biennial, South Korea (2021) and the 15th Istanbul Biennial (2015, curated by Elmgreen & Dragset). In 2024, Gözde İlkin will exhibit in the 17th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, under the artistic direction of Isabelle Bertolotti and curated by Alexia Fabre.

    ENQUIRY
    Gözde ĺlkin

    Born in 1981 in Kütahya, Turkey
    Lives and works in Istanbul, Turkey


    EDUCATION

    2008-2012 Master of Fine Arts in painting, Marmara Fine Art Institute, Istanbul, Turkey
    2005-2006 European Union Education and Youth Programs: Leonardo da Vinci Program, RAM and Ram Foundation,
    Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    1999-2004 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Turkey

    SOLO AND DUO EXHIBITIONS

    2023
    Invisible Bonds, Companion Roots, curated by Joana P.R. Neves, PARIS-B, Paris, France

    2022
    The Eye of the Earth, The Mouth of the Ground, Gypsum Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
    Entrusted Ground, Curated by Duygu Demir, Choreography: Aslı Öztürk, Sound Design: Berke Can Özcan, Performance: Alara Erdem, Barış Diker, Nazlı Durak, Umut Özdaloğlu, artSümer Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey

    2019
    Stand Alone and All Together, artSümer Gallery, Istanbul
    Organized Habitation, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Paris, France
    « Comme les racines parlent, les fissures se creusent », MAC VAL Garden, Vitry-sur-Seine,France
    Cruise of Endless Confession, François Heitsch Gallery, Munich, Germany

    2018
    Found Landscape, Condo 2018, Gypsum Gallery hosted by Franklin Parrasch Gallery, New York, USA

    2017
    Absent Demonstration, artSümer Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
    Reverie of Space 15th Istanbul Biennial Neighbouring Events, French Institute of İzmir, Curated by Caroline David, Izmir, Turkey
    Tiny Office Project Organized by Suzi Erşahin, Consulate General of Sweden, Istanbul, Turkey

    2016
    The Trap, Gypsum Gallery, Cairo, Egypt

    2015
    Stained Estate Françoise Heitsch Gallery, Munich, Germany

    2013
    Triplestar Inside Out Art Museum, Beijing, China

    2012
    Methodical Inquiries #4 Gözde İlkin, working group: Özge Ersoy, Ahmet Öğüt, in collaboration with Adnan Yıldız and Övül Durmuşoğlu, Polistar, Istanbul, Turkey

    2011
    Refuge: Chorus of Voices from Inside, artSümer Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey

    2010
    Please Clear the Dance Floor, artSümer, Istanbul, Turkey

    2004
    Body on Body Wearable Art Karşı Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey

    BIENNIAL & FESTIVALS

    2024
    “Les voix des fleuves, Crossing the water”, the 17th edition of the Lyon Biennale, Artistic director: Isabelle Bertolotti Guest curator: Alexia Fabre, Lyon, France
    Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana, Director Hedwig Fijen Second Creative Mediator of Manifesta 15 Filipa Oliveira, Barcelona, Spain

    2023
    All images will disappear one day, Autostrada Biennale 4th, Curated by Ovul Durmusoglu & Joana Warsza, Supported by Saha Foundation Prizren, Kosovo

    2021
    12th Survival Kit Festival, Curated by Övül Durmuşoğlu, Joanna Warsza, Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art, Supported by Saha Foundation, Riga, Latvia
    Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning 13th Gwangju Biennial, Curated by Defne Ayas and Natasha Ginwala, Supported by Saha Foundation, South Korea

    2017
    A Good Neighbor, 15th Istanbul Biennial Curated by Elmgreen and Dragset, Pera Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

    SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

    2024
    In Real Time, NYUAD Art Gallery, Curated by Maya Allison and Duygu, Demir, Abu Dhabi
    Porter notre part de la nuit, MAC/VAL Val-De-Marne Contemporary Art Museum, Paris, France

    2023
    Our Ancestors Bloom Overground, Curator: Joana P. R. Neves, Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London, UK
    Myth Of The Cherry Tree, Organized by Mary Grace Wright, Standard (Oslo), Norway

    2022
    Skin and Soul, Curated by Beral Madra, A Selection from Museum Evliyagil & PAPKO Collections, Evliyagil Dolapdere, Istanbul, Turkey
    Venedigsche Sterne Curated by Susann Wintsch and Stephan Kunz, Bündner Kunstmuseum, Commissioned by the BündnerKunstmuseum, Chur, Switzerland
    Rooted Being Curated by Barbara Rodriguez Munoz, Wellcome Collection, London, UK
    Womanhood and Sustainability, Cultural Exchange Project Switzerland – Turkey Concept & Project management:
    Carole Kambli, Ariane Tinner, and Burçak Yakıcı, Organised by Swiss Embassy, Cer Modern Ankara and Barın Hanmm, İstanbul, Turkey
    It’s Just a Phase, Curated by Rhea Dall and Elmgreen & Dragset by Ingar Dragset, Kjøpmannsgata Ung Kunst, Trodheim, Norway

    2021
    UnNatural History, curated by Invisible dust, hereby Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, UK
    Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning, 13th Gwangju Biennial, curated by Defne Ayas and Natasha Ginwala, South Korea
    All Else is Far, curated bu Ceren Erdem, Dirimart, Istanbul

    2020
    Up above was fog, down below was a cloud of dust, DEPO, Istanbul

    2019
    Gaia has a Thousand names, curated by Tara Lundi, Elgiz Museum, Istanbul
    Journey To The Spirit of Place, Halka Art Project, Istanbul
    Unspeakable Home, Enchanting Companions, curated by Derya Bayraktaroğlu, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe, Germany
    The Event of a Thread: Global Narratives in Textiles, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul
    Artist Pick Artist, artSumer Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey

    2018
    «S-tched & Drawn» Gözde İlkin / Siwa Mgoboza, MaPer Gallery, Toronto, Canada
    Home is where the he(art) is curated by Yann Perreau, PARIS-B, Paris

    2017
    A Good Neighbour on the Move, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
    “A Good Neighbor” 15th Istanbul Biennial Curated by Elmgreen and Dragset, Pera Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
    Sana Ghobbeh (Iran) | Gözde İlkin (Turkey) Curated by Zorana Đaković Minniti, Gallery PODROOM, Cultural Centre of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia “Muscle Memory” Curated by Ece Pazarbaşı, Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Bethanien, Berlin, Germany

    2016
    Inverse Greyscale – Wider den Grautönen Curator: Ceren Erdem, Galerieräume der Pasinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany
    zeigedeine Wunde 2016 / Teil 2 – Das Environment Maximilians Forum, Munich, Germany

    2015
    Future Queer Curated by Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu, ARK Kültür, Istanbul, Turkey
    Stay With Me Artists~Books on the Gezi Park Demonstrations, Center for Artists’Publications, Weserburg Museum, Bremen, Germany
    Spaceliner Curated by Barbara Heinrich, Arter, Istanbul, Turkey

    2013
    No one belongs here more than you Curated by Red Min(e)d, 54th October Salon, Belgrade, Serbia

    2012
    Journey Wanderings in Contemporary Turkey , Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton, Paris, France

    2011
    If you’re trapped in the dream of the other, you’re fucked! Curated by Katja Kobolt,SkucGallery,Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Dream and Reality ,Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Istanbul, Turkey

    2010
    Hyper Real: The Passion of the Real in Painting and Photography Curated by Susanne Neuburger and BrigiPe Franzen, MUMOK, Vienna, Austria
    New Talents’ Biennale Artistic Director / Curator (Art and Media): Jochen Heufelder DEG, Cologne, Germany

    2009
    Under my feet I want the world, not heaven in ‘Istanbul Next Wave’, Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Germany
    Seriously Ironic Positions in Turkish Contemporary Art Scene, Centre Pasquart, Biel, Switzerland

    RESIDENCIES

    2022
    Vardiya Artist residency, Beykoz Kundura, Istanbul, Turkey

    2021
    Water Mill Center, Artist Residency /October-November 2021, New York City, USA
    IASPIS Konstnärsnämnden, The Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Residency Program, April-June 2021, Stockholm, Sweden

    2019
    MAC VAL, Vitry-sur-Seine, France

    2018
    Pioneer Works, New York

    2017
    Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France

    2014
    Artist Residency Künstlerhaus Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    2006
    Topkapı German-­‐Turkish Cultural Exchange Project residency & group exhibition, Spedituon, Bremen, Germany

    COLLECTIVES & PERFORMANCES
    AtlKunst (2013 – 2006) Member of AylKunst with Gülçin Aksoy & Yasemin Nur

    Garip Bir Pandik Performans No-­‐I 2011 AylKunst, Halı Atölyesi, Ha Za Vu Zu, Cevdet Erek MSGSÜ, Fındıklı Kampüsü, Istanbul,Turkey

    Tatbikat / Field Exercise I-­‐II 2009, Hafriyat Karaköy, Istanbul, Turkey

    WORKSHOPS & TALKS

    2017
    6th Feminist Forum -­ Workshop: Bring Our Utopias Together with Art! Organized by Kaos GL, Ankara, Turkey

    2016
    Kunstgespräch Wundbehandlung – Kunst als Sozialraum Maximilians Forum, Munich, Germany

    2015
    Workshop: Lost & Found Salt Galata, Istanbul, Turkey

    2013
    Discussion with artist collectives: h.arta, ff, a7.außeneinsatz and artists Gozde Ilkin & Margareta Kern, 54th October Salon – ‘No one belongs here more than You’, Belgrade, Serbia

    2012
    The Artist’s Rights in scope of the exhibition “In Deed: Certificates of Authenticity i Art” Guest Speakers: Eda Çataklar (Lawyer, Istanbul Bilgi University Intellectual Property Law Research Center), Volkan Aslan (Artist), Seda Hepsev (Artist), Gözde İlki (Artist), İz Öztat (Artist), Salz Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey

    2010
    Sampler -­ Cultureclash, Workshop: Sound and Stitching MNAC, Bucharest, Roumania

    2009
    Experimental Workshop Project ‘Reciprocal Visit’ by Apartment Project, Route: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran

    Portrait-Gozde-GILKIN-23-PARIS-B
    Download biography

    As The Roots Speak, the Cracks Deepen
    Text of 13th Gwangju Biennale

    Who am I Gaia? I am a place.
    I am a piece of you where the winged don’t fly,
    Where the bones don’t crumble,
    Where the clawed don’t scratch.
    And I am many things that have witnessed the awakening of seeds within some feminine passage.
    I am the emerald at the root of stone, and I am the thread in the tissue of ginger

    —Sema Kaygusuz

    Gözde Ilkin collects used textiles from domestic environments and transforms them into tools for memory and material archives of their social processes and cultural contexts. Combining embroidery, painting, collage, natural dyes, and audiovisual components, the artist considers the fabrics “stages” for her elusive visions of fantastic beings that transcend human, animal, and plant categories and allow her to question power relations, gender attitudes, and urban transformations. Suspended from the ceiling of the Biennale Hall, As the Roots Spoke, the Cracks Deepen (2019–20) continues Ilkin’s engagement with plant intelligence, an acknowledgment of symbiotic forms of interspecies coexistence.

    The project began in Vitry-sur-Seine, an ethnically diverse neighborhood in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, where the artist sought the fleeting presence of plants in urban isolation. Transplanted to Jungoe Park, the largest leisure and cultural area in Gwangju, new site-responsive works turn the focus to the power of healing and transformation that plants assume as integral parts of shamanic rituals. The installation is accompanied by verses from Sema Kaygusuz, an ecofeminist author known for her critiques of the Turkish politics of ethnic and religious homogenization. Both Ilkin and Kaygusuz challenge the concept of roots as defined by national and religious affiliations and interpret them as natural and imaginary bonds passed down through generations. Evoking the refuge of rural environments, the politics of land in Anatolia and Mesopotamia, and theories of the migration of souls in the service of the reclamation of culture, Kaygusuz’s verses suffuse the work with an underlying political dimension.

    The bed sheets, curtains, and tablecloths—sewn, stitched, and collaged by Ilkin and her mother—blend various ancestral knowledges of materials and techniques. The radiant colors are extracts of medicinal and ceremonial plants, like the blue woad, one of the first known natural dyes, or the yellowish brown of peganum harmala, valued for its hallucinogenic effects. In Gwangju, the hibiscus that leaves its deep pink mark on The Entrustment Shaman (2020) is more commonly referred to as the Korean rose, a symbol of the South Korean people and their land. By weaving together meanings from different cultures, each piece becomes a story, dwelling in the interstitial spaces between plants and humans, mourning and birth, the dead and the living.

    Kökler konuştukça çatlaklar derinleşir “ (As The Roots Spoke, the Cracks Deepen), 2019–2020. Commissioned by the 13th Gwangju Biennale.
    Installation: Painting and stitching on found fabrics hand-dyed with plant extracts; 3-channel audio installation with a prayer by Sema Kaygusuz “The Cracks Deepen as the Roots Speak”.