01-04-2010

13-04-2010

Turkey, Istanbul

Posted by: gulgun-tuzun

Category: Exhibition

Field: Visual arts

Contemporary “Archetypes” from Selma Gürbüz

A Special Exhibition of Selma Gürbüz’ Contemporary “Archetypes” takes place at the Antrepo, between 1-13 April...

In her new exhibition, Selma Gürbüz uses contemporary language to re-interpret and question archetypes that are already established within cultural memory.

An archetype, the literal meaning of which emphasises the original and raw state of knowledge, designates the workings of our collective subconscious. Archetypes, which point also to meanings such as mould or template, are used to define the visual building blocks that constitute human culture. The word, used also throughout generations to refer to symbols that have formed set forms of behaviour, actually functions as the symbolic data of universal knowledge. Archetypes, which may refer to the interpretation of dreams, to ancient myths and to the fields of visual arts, literature and cultural studies, can be defined as ideal paradigms where thought gains visibility.

In her previous exhibition, Selma Gürbüz transformed images that assail us unbidden and that carry social, cultural and political messages. She questioned with a basically feminist approach the current position of feminine images which have lost their contents through repetition. Selma Gürbüz’ works used to contain the gloomy influences of the language of colour and form of pop art, excessively loaded with meaning, as well as of the solace of the imagination presented by a fairy-tale-like essence.

In the exhibition entitled “Archetype,” the artist recognises images established within art history and cultural memory as main forms and designs them afresh. The scene of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from paradise, a subject dealt with in so many paintings, the re-interpretation of Velasquez’ masterpiece, “The Maids of Honour,” the concept of strength and power engraved into our minds by an ancient statues, an animal repeated endlessly as the symbol of a religious belief... sometimes she extracts from their contexts these images we know so well and sometimes she links them as clear signs with the associations of the erotic subconscious. In some of her works the artist refers to feminist critique to interpret the erotic allusions and meanings of the concept of naked women, which we encounter in many paintings in the history of art.

Selma Gürbüz shares with her viewers subjects well-known by them and practically talks to them about those subjects. She meanders around concepts such as love, death, power and eroticism and investigates through which archetypes in history they become visible and within which present day archetypes they are imprisoned. Through figures and beings, which at times seem to be cut-outs, at times are shaped as if though a graffiti effect and at times are subtly embroidered, the artist maintains her intense bond with contemporary forms of expressions through both paintings and sculptures.
The exhibition, which can be viewed between 1-15 April, is on display at the Antrepo, which has also hosted the Istanbul Biennial.
SELMA GÜRBÜZ’ ARCHETYPE EXHIBITION
Antrepo 3. Meclisi Mebusan Cad. Karaköy-Istanbul

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