Semih Zeki

Born in Bolu in 1981, Semih Zeki graduated from Marmara University Painting Department. The artist, who completed his master’s degree at Işık University, Department of Art Theory and Criticism, opens his first solo exhibition at Ütopia Platform in 2010 with the title “What You See From My Nature/Benim Doğamdan Sizin Gördükleriniz”. Semih Zeki mainly uses architectural details and data in his paintings and creates a new architectural system by transforming and changing all elements. While in his early works there are hints of the whole structure or its evolution from the part to the whole, in his recent works, he brings the part-whole relationship together with the audience with an increasingly abstract expression. In this process, which Semih Zeki defines as “the journey of painting to painting”, paintings take place in a system that preserves its own special forms, recycles, reproduces and renews itself continuously with the bonds they provide between each other. The artist, who opened his solo exhibitions titled “Gross Layers/Brüt Katmanlar” in 2015, “Demolition/Yıkım” in 2017, and “Autopoiesis” in 2019 at Bozlu Art Project, continues his productions in his workshop in Istanbul.

EDUCATION

2009: Işık University Art Theory and Criticism (Master)

2004: Marmara University Fine Arts Faculty Painting Department

1999: Bolu Anatolia Fine Arts High School Painting Department

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2019: Autopoiesis / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2017: Demolition (Yıkım) / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2015: Gross Layers (Brüt Katmanlar) / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2012: Threat (Tehdit) / Artgalerim Nişantaşı Sanat Galerisi, İstanbul

2010: hat You See From My Nature (Benim Doğamdan Sizin Gördükleriniz) / Ütopya Platform, İstanbul

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS

2021: Şu An Buradasınız / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul

2021: Tayfa 35 / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul

2019: Sagalassos İçin / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2017: Sosyomanya / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2016: Korku / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2014: İklim Değişimi / Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2013: Kuramsal Düşler / Artgalerim Nişantaşı Sanat Galerisi, İstanbul

2013: Seni Sanattan Daha Çok Seviyorum / Ekavart Sanat Galerisi İstanbul

2012: 71. Devlet Resim Heykel Sergisi, Ankara

2012: Algı Kapıları / Cep Sanat Galerisi, The Marmara Pera, İstanbul

2011: 1. İstanbul Yaz Sergisi / Beyaz Art, Sanat Limanı, İstanbul

2011: Sonsuzluk / Tunca Sanat Galerisi, İstanbul

2011: Yüzeyde Aşınmalar / Art Suites Gallery, İstanbul

2011: Bağlantı / Artgalerim Nişantaşı Sanat Galerisi, İstanbul

2010: Soğuk Element / Akademililer Sanat Galerisi, İstanbul

2010: Genç Ustalar / Usta Gençler MKM, İstanbul

2008: PG Art Gallery, Karma Sergi, İstanbul

2007: Kargaşa 7 / Karma Resim Sergisi, Kargart, İstanbul

2004: Şaman Güncesi / Proje 4L, İstanbul

2004: 31. DYO Resim Sergisi, İstanbul

2004: 65. Devlet Resim Heykel Sergisi, Ankara

FAIRS

2022: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Vision Art Platform, İstanbul

2021: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Vision Art Platform, İstanbul

2019: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2018: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2017: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2016: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2015: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Bozlu Art Project, İstanbul

2015: Art Now The Artisrs Fair, London

2014: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Cep Galeri, İstanbul

2012: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Artgalerim Nişantaşı, İstanbul

2011: Contemporary İstanbul Art Fair – Artgalerim Nişantaşı, İstanbul

2011: Art Bosphorus Contemporary Art Fair – Artgalerim Nişantaşı, İstanbul

5 November – 14 December 2019 / Bozlu Art Project Mongeri Building

Focusing on a transition from static architectural structures to dynamic systems in his artwork, Semih Zeki features the self-renewing cycle of demolition, piles of debris and reconstruction in his new exhibition, “Autopoiesis”.

The term “Autopoiesis”, initially used to describe the constant self-renewal of living systems in order to maintain their existence, in time entered fields such as psychology, social sciences and architecture as the ‘self-reproduction of something from its own components’. This concept fits in smoothly with the overlapping layers we encounter in Semih Zeki’s painting. The artist first breaks the whole into pieces, then brings these pieces together, transforming and recreating the whole. He also includes the viewer in this process he describes as “painting’s journey to painting”, by leaving it up to our minds to complete the architectural constructions we are confronted with in the meanwhile.

Semih Zeki believes that thought should not take precedence over painting, and therefore wishes his painting to take its own course in its process of production and be open to all kinds of surprises. He is after the contemporary, rather than the historical. As explained in his following words, he calls for a cycle of self-improvement and transformation in producing artwork, characterized by constantly reproducing ‘the new’ rather than repetition: “In my opinion, the artist must always be in a state of boundless, endless change; one of dynamism in terms of his or her own awareness. This will, of course, bring along a sense of incompleteness and dissatisfaction, or restlessness in the artist.”

(From the press release)

Click here to see some of the works in the exhibition.