Bringing together Melek Mazıcı’s latest works, her solo exhibition Endlessness, takes place at Galeri Nev Istanbul between April 5 – May 25, 2024. The Helsinki-based artist, known for her exploration of the inclusive qualities of white space in her 2016 exhibition Colors on White, at Galeri Nev Istanbul, returns to the Istanbul scene after seven years. Working primarily on paper and canvas, Mazıcı’s pieces are celebrated for their rich blend of form, color, and light, inviting viewers to intertwine their own experiences and emotions with the imagery. Through the title Endlessness, Mazıcı highlights the ever-unfolding array of details and perspectives waiting to be discovered anew with each counter of her work.
Mazıcı meticulously employs light, color, and form to craft a simple yet profound visual language in her paintings. She seamlessly merges colors from her native Turkey, the landscapes of her longtime home in Finland, and the teachings of Far Eastern culture that extol simplicity. Her recent works, emanating from her studio in Helsinki over the past two years, stem from an unmediated, boundless, and flexible dialogue with her viewer. Drawing inspiration from nature, Mazıcı reflects on the impressions it leaves upon her and her collaboration with the subconscious as the primary sources of her artistic creations. Throughout this exhibition, the artist delves into the ever-evolving relationship that viewers form with her works, ripe for reinterpretation with each encounter. For Mazıcı, the expansive white canvas serves as a conduit, transforming into an intermediary space inviting viewers into her creations. Amidst vibrant hues of blue, green, and turquoise, reminiscent of the imminent arrival of spring, bursts of red evoke a fiery energy. Mazıcı also emphasizes the elemental presence of water, both physically and conceptually, within her paintings. With each layer of water depicted, Mazıcı plunges into a metaphorical dive, capturing an array of colors that shift and diversify as depth is explored. Working with mainly watercolor and acrylic, and employing music, rhythm, color and the fluidity of water, Mazıcı’s paintings exude a sense of freedom and transparency.
The exhibition is accompanied by a book in English, including an interview with Melek Mazıcı by Harri Saukkomaa and a text by Seda Yörüker on the artist's work and practice. The book, which bears the same title as the exhibition, also includes photographs from Mazıcı's studio and images of her work.
*Galeri Nev Istanbul can be visited between 11 am - 6.30pm on Tuesday-Friday and 12pm-6.30pm on Saturday.
For more information and questions: info@galerinevistanbul.com
