Sinem Pehlivan
Sinem Pehlivan "After graduating from the Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts at Mustafa Kemal University, she completed her master's degree in the Department of Art and Design at Istanbul Kemerburgaz (Altınbaş) University. She finalized her thesis on 'Socio-cultural and Political Environment in Post-1980 Turkey and Studies on Protest Art.' In 2021, she was selected for the 'yazıhane' project, a collaboration between Istanbul Narmanli Art and the Dutch Consulate. During the 2022-2023 period, she successfully completed the 'Contemporary Art and Curatorship' training program, conducted in cooperation with Akbank Art and Open Dialogue Istanbul. In 2024, she participated in the "Eşikte Birlikte (Together at the Threshold)" workshop under the CultureCIVIC: Capacity Development Program for artists and curators. She continues her curatorial research and artistic production focusing on public art, activist art, space, and memory. Additionally, she contributes to the cultural and artistic field through evaluation, critique, and analytical writings.
Déjà Vu
The "Déjà Vu" exhibition explores the intricate relationship between urban identity, memory, and collective consciousness, taking inspiration from cities like Antakya, which have endured cycles of destruction and reconstruction.
The exhibition highlights the resilience of such urban spaces while reflecting on how personal and collective memories shape and are shaped by the physical and emotional layers of cities.
Featuring a variety of artworks in different mediums, the exhibition examines themes such as political and cultural identity, resistance, and continuity. It delves into the experiences of individuals and communities, investigating how memory manifests in urban environments and is transformed by rituals, historical events, and everyday encounters.
Through its curatorial lens, the exhibition frames cities as living entities with complex narratives embedded in their architectural and cultural fabric. From the persistence of historical sites to the fleeting echoes of personal experiences, "Déjà Vu" offers viewers an opportunity to engage with cities as repositories of collective history and individual memory.
The exhibition’s dialogue between past and present invites the audience to reflect on their connections to place and identity. It poses critical questions about the resilience of memory in an era of rapid urban transformation and encourages a deeper understanding of how spaces we inhabit carry the imprints of history, culture, and personal stories.