EXHIBITION

Vicious Circle

EXHIBITION
Vicious Circle

Alp Doğu Eser

Alp Doğu Eser was born in 1994 in Ankara. In 2019, he graduated as the top student of the Art History Department at Cumhuriyet University. In 2021, he completed his master’s degree in the Department of Art History, specializing in Western Art and Contemporary Arts at Hacettepe University, with a thesis titled "Following the Mediterranean Light: Venice, Martigues, Istanbul through the Eyes of Félix Ziem." In 2022, he began his doctoral studies at the same institution.

Eser has also received comprehensive training in hosting, vocal performance, dance, theater history, diction, and acting from institutions such as the Başkent Communication Sciences Academy and the Sadri Alışık Cultural Center. Furthermore, he graduated from the “Contemporary Art and Curatorship” program, jointly organized by Açık Diyalog İstanbul and Akbank Sanat, with his exhibition project titled "Vicious Circle."

He continues to work on his dissertation, "New Media Art in Turkey and The Place of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Contemporary Art Practices," and co-hosts the program "Counter-Conversations" with Art Historian Barış Acar, where they discuss the actions and dynamics of contemporary art.

Books: Modern Confinements: A Diary of an Art Historian, Following the Mediterranean Light: Félix Ziem (1821–1911),Is Contemporary Art a Fraud or a Truth? Avelina Lésper Analysis, The Uniqueness Phenomenon of the Artwork: Non-Fungible Token and Art,, The NFT State of Art, A Critical Look at Today: Life, Art, Art History, Artificial Intelligence and Art: A Perspective on Discussions with Artists, Artificial Intelligence and Art: Tool or Purpose?

Vicious Circle

The exhibition’s fundamental aim is to make visible, through art, the truths that society often avoids confronting. It seeks to remind us of the necessity of pausing, reflecting, and understanding in a fast-moving world.

The exhibition will be organized under two main themes: Reminding and Proposals. These sections aim to create a dialogue platform to understand the chronic problems of our society and generate solutions.

1. Reminding

The first section will highlight issues in our country that have persisted for generations and await resolution. Problems such as femicides, child brides, urban sprawl, environmental destruction, migration, and identity politics are among the fundamental challenges our society faces. This exhibition will not only bring these problems to the surface but also critique the cyclical structure in which these issues are reproduced.

Tragic events that frequently dominate our agenda, unfortunately, fail to leave a lasting impression on our collective memory. We quickly forget the trauma caused by one incident and find ourselves in a position of waiting for the next disaster. This continuity reflects not only individual but also societal apathy. The artworks in this exhibition aim to question this apathy and invite viewers to confront it.

The section titled "Reminding" seeks to reveal the recurring nature of these issues. When these problems come to the forefront, they create temporary awareness, but this awareness quickly fades. Society, after being shaken by shocking events, returns to the pace of daily life, paving the way for the next crisis. This cyclical structure has become entrenched in an environment where individuals and institutions fail to develop appropriate social responses.

2. Proposals

The second section focuses on solutions to these problems. The works presented by artists demonstrate that social transformation is possible and that individuals, from the smallest units to the largest communities, can come together to realize this change. This section explores answers to the question, "What can the solution be?" while also criticizing the superficiality of responses to societal issues.

The exhibition investigates the possibilities of developing meaningful responses. Topics such as women’s rights, environmental protection, and sustainable urbanization are addressed not only through critique but also with a perspective rooted in hope and action. At the core of these solutions lie active participation and the rebuilding of collective consciousness.

The "Vicious Circle" exhibition’s fundamental aim is to make visible, through art, the truths that society often avoids confronting. It seeks to remind us of the necessity of pausing, reflecting, and understanding in a fast-moving world. Jean Baudrillard’s theory of the "Simulation Universe" has been a significant source of inspiration for the exhibition. According to Baudrillard, in the simulation universe created by technology and mass media, the processes of meaning have shortened, reducing individuals' ability to react deeply to events.

"With the development of technology and mass media, the abundance and speed of messages in the simulation universe have killed the evaluation of life experiences and awareness. Processes of meaning have shortened and turned into instant judgments. Responses to rapidly flowing images on screens have become as brief as possible in terms of duration, leaving people no time to think. Consequently, in the simulation universe, perception processes are limited to continuously flowing images in an environment where superficial decisions are quickly made." (Baudrillard, 2016, p. 110).

In this context, the exhibition is not merely a space for awareness but also a call to reflection and action. Art is approached as a tool capable of rebuilding social memory, encouraging individuals to think deeply and take initiative.

Artists & Works

Ahmet Duru

Spirit of the Earth and Breath, 2020

Mixed media installation

61 x 41 x 16

Ali Kanal

CNN, 2023

Crayon on paper

150 x 75 cm

Ayla Aksoyoğlu

Mourning of the Forest, 2022

Acrylic on canvas 

200 x 200

Burcu Kaya Karaduman

Endless Flight, 2022

Installation 

15 x 20 cm

Bülent Çınar

Child Bride, 2014

Installation 

170 x 150 x 60 cm

Cemil Olgun Can

Slum 005, 2021

Mixed media

62 x 17 x 24 cm

Deniz Varlı

Woman’s Edict, 2023

Digital printing on fabric, sewing, rolling pin

40 x 585 cm

Erdoğan Paksoy

Last Souvenir Photo, 2022

Oil on canvas

80 x 200 cm

Evren Gül

Migration, 2023

Mixed media on canvas

60 x 70 cm

Gökçe Hiçyılmaz

Opposite, 2016

Installation 

180 x 170 x 130 cm

Hakan Gündüz

Human Colony, 2015

Interactive installation

Hazel Rah

Aufbau, 2023

Video with artificial intelligence

Hazel Rah

Uncle Hakan’s Story, 2023

Video with artificial intelligence

Libertalia

A Daily Routine at Council, 2023

Artificial intelligence text to image

Digital print on canvas

100 x 80 cm

Mehmet Yılmaz

A Sunni and An Alevi, 2014

Digital print on canvas (left), oil on canvas (right)

Mehmet Yılmaz

A Turk and A Kurd, 2014

Digital print on canvas (left)

Oil on canvas (right)

Nimet Kaymaz

Bonded, 2016

Monoprint

64 x 100 cm

Polat İyem

Heal, 2023

Artificial intelligence and manipulation

Digital print on canvas

80 x 120 cm

Şeyda Torlak

Everthing Collapses, 2023

Digital print on canvas

80 x 20 cm

Ventus Kai

Can Anyone Hear Me?, 2023

Artificial intelligence and foto-manipulation

Digital print on canvas

80 x 120 cm

Yeliz Çelik

Silent Scream, 2023

Artificial intelligence and manipulation

Digital print on canvas

80 x 120 cm

Follow Us
TR EN
Filter events by label
15 SEP MON
1

19:00

Learning Program Material: Plants

Online Platform – Zoom

16 SEP TUE
1

19:00

Learning Program Material: Plants

Online Platform – Zoom

17 SEP WED
1

19:00

Learning Program Material: Plants

Online Platform – Zoom

18 SEP THU
1

19:00

Learning Program Material: Plants

Online Platform – Zoom

19 SEP FRI
-
20 SEP SAT
-
21 SEP SUN
-
22 SEP MON
-
23 SEP TUE
-
24 SEP WED
-
25 SEP THU
-
26 SEP FRI
-
27 SEP SAT
2

19:00

Concert Nilüfer Verdi Trio “Playing Tunes for Peace”

Yeldeğirmeni Arts Center

20:45

Concert İlhan Erşahin’s İstanbul Sessions

Müze Gazhane

28 SEP SUN
3

11:00

Concert Maya Perest

Sakıp Sabancı Müzesi

15:00

Concert Kind of Six

Yeldeğirmeni Arts Center

19:00

Concert Raül Refree Presents “El Espacio Entre”

Yeldeğirmeni Arts Center

29 SEP MON
-
30 SEP TUE
3

18:00

Concert Ahmet Ali Arslan “Manastır”

All Saints Moda Church

18:30

Conversation Beni Bu Şarkılar Mahvetti: 35th Akbank Jazz Festival Special Edition

Bant Mag. Havuz / Bina

21:00

Concert Sista Sound presents: Özge Ürer, Deniz Taşar, Kamucan Yalçın & Ana Flávia

Bant Mag. Havuz / Bina

01 OCT WED
4

19:30

Concert Joel Lyssarides & Georgios Prokopiou

Arter

21:30

Concert Jazz Clubs Night: Berkay Sümbül Quintet

Bova

21:30

Concert Jazz Clubs Night: Yeşim Pekiner Quintet “Reflections on a Jade”

Nardis Jazz Club

21:30

Concert Jazz Clubs Night: Batu Şallıel and Istanbul Swing Cats

Pera 77

02 OCT THU
2

20:30

Concert Chief Adjuah

Zorlu PSM, Turkcell Platinum Stage

22:00

Concert Niechęć "Distaste"

Frankhan

03 OCT FRI
2

20:30

Concert Jazz Meets Rap

Alan Kadıköy

21:00

Concert All Night Jazz: Jitwam (DJ Set), Chez Damier (DJ Set), Grup Ses (DJ Set)

Frankhan

04 OCT SAT
5

11:00

Children Workshop Wild Child Orchestra (Ages 9-12)

Akatlar Kültür Merkezi

13:00

Conversation Jazz Network Panel: Can the Media in Turkey Keep Up with the Rhythm of Jazz?

Salon İKSV

13:00

Workshop Keeping Track of the Musical Journey Workshop with Üretim Kaydı

Zuhal Müzik Kanyon

20:00

Concert Ali Perret “Octopus Band”

Akatlar Kültür Merkezi

21:30

Concert Enji

Salon İKSV

05 OCT SUN
3

11:00

Children Workshop Wild Child Orchestra (Ages 6-9)

Bağlarbaşı Cultural Center

15:00

Conversation Turning Points in Jazz History

Bağlarbaşı Cultural Center

19:30

Concert Önder Focan & Yavuz Darıdere "Legendary Hammond Trio" & Guests

Bağlarbaşı Cultural Center

Add event to your calendar

Subscribe to Newsletter