Artist Talks: Seçil
We had a pleasant interview with Seçil, an artist who includes themes of liberation, curiosity about the unknown and the functioning of the universe in her art.
Drawing attention to the inner liberation of the individual and the harmony between the mind and the heart in her works, artist Seçil skillfully reflects abstract and deep concepts where the flow of colors, geometry and texture come together impressively. Currently working on works such as “Being” and “Being in Love,” the artist is also focusing on a book project. We had a pleasant interview with artist Seçil , who continues her artistic journey actively with her solo exhibition in Istanbul and ongoing exhibitions and productions in London, where we talked about many details from the roots of her art to the points where she draws inspiration.
Can you tell us about yourself and your work?
Of course. First of all, I would like to thank you and the readers for taking the time and space for me. I am a contemporary artist originally from Istanbul who has been living and working in London for a long time. Although I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Classical Western European painting at Mimar Sinan University, I have always been interested in contemporary art and metaphysics. In this context, I have progressed by drawing a path for myself that would take me to the international arena. While I was based in Istanbul, due to certain thoughts and circumstances, I first started to act with guest artist programs and projects, and then my situation of settling in London developed. After my settlement, I focused on developing from there in addition to my ties with Turkey. After my first year in London, I earned the right to participate in the artist development program with a scholarship provided by the European Union and the London Creative Network together. As the liberation in the visual content of my works began to show itself, it continued and continues to be consolidated with my acceptance to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London and the curatorial exhibitions in New York Nada.
How did you start dealing with art?
I didn't start with art, it was always there. As far back as I can remember, I've always been making something, producing, it's always opened up a big space for me and given me pleasure. I can say that my discovery of my creative side and spirituality dates back to the age of 8-9. When I was 11-12, I started making jewelry sets, which in addition to my creative side, brought out my first entrepreneurial side. First, I was designing, then I was organizing the materials, and I was producing and selling in a certain discipline, just like the one I'm working on now.
Then, during my high school years, my interest in all forms of art increased and while studying science and mathematics, I learned how to take the fine arts talent exams and my real artistic journey that has brought me to this day began. I promised myself that I would continue until the last moment of my life, but I will also watch and see the outcome.
What perspectives do you highlight in your work?
As a dreamer, I am looking for the ideal possibility and pure beauty in the unknown future, in other words, in eternity. Inner liberation, my curiosity for the unknown and beyond the formulation of the system we know have always been my main subject. Therefore, my paintings revolving around the issues of who we are, who I am, what is the meaning of my life, how the universe works have gained momentum through my own experiences, observations and readings. Of course, this big subject takes shape and develops from time to time. Right now, I find myself producing works using painting elements, thinking and playing around these questions.
In my recent works, I emphasize that nothing is more important than the individual's own self, the synchronization between their breath, mind and heart, and the state of being in harmony. In this context, as an artist, I am interested in the intention of the works I produce during production, the atmosphere created by both content and visual power, and the value that the period I am in adds to life.
What are the points that inspire you when preparing your works?
There are so many things; traveling, culture, all forms of art, music, dance, sports, readings on personal and spiritual development, meditation and other sources of inspiration that form the basis of my life.
My breath has also become my main inspiration. Observing the flow of life, stopping, becoming an observer, activating my own potential, allows me to see beauty as I develop. The idea of the individual's "state of being" in life has been a subject I have been thinking about for a long time, especially when it was combined with the concepts of time and space, and I had the opportunity to address it from many different aspects. However, I must now say that there is only one place where everything goes and unites, and that is consciousness.
What I am looking for is individual and holistic change, transformation and liberation, and I think that all the fictions we live in are completely related to consciousness and the person's own point of view. In other words, I am talking about an increasing courage to create at the point where I say that my existence (here I am the person himself) is sufficient for everything and that it is in my hands to create the most beautiful and good. In this context, I produce my works that are based on a geometric infrastructure, together with color and texture, where the relationship between the part and the whole is highlighted, and which are interconnected but also produced independently, within the framework of these concepts.
Which art movement defines you best?
Within the scope of contemporary art, we can call it conceptual abstract painting. Works dominated by color, texture and geometry. But I can also say that they are innovative, futuristic and a bit related to mysticism.
Of all the jobs you have done, which one is the most exciting and special?
When I look back, I see that I have some key works that represent each of my periods. I work on many techniques and dimensions within the framework of conceptual works and subjects that last for several years, and at the same time I produce a main and large-scale work.
In this context, I can say that the painting installation I made in 2013 called “Alan”, which is a combination of 55 canvases and is 299x600 cm in size, “Bird’s Eye View” in 2016, which is also large in size (140x840cm), “Unification” in 2018, which is a total of 200x440 cm and consists of 11 pieces, and finally my work called “Being”, which consists of 12 pieces but has a total scale of 180x1800 cm, are among the leading ones.
Can you tell us about the projects you are currently working on or planning to work on?
I produce regularly and I attach great importance to my studio practice. I first design the plot by bringing together the content, dimensions and numbers I focus on. These designs are the images I currently see when I am at a deep mental level. In this context, after finishing the design in my studio in London, I produced “Being” and “Being in Love” from my paintings, the production of which took a year. Now I am preparing a book within the scope of these works and content. I am working on another series, the publication of which will be realized with an exhibition, again planned to be held in London, where the pieces and the whole plot will dominate.
Can you give us information about your current exhibitions?
My solo exhibition titled “Being”, which came to life in Adas Istanbul, where colors enter into dialogue with each other and where I believe everyone can read in their own way and find something about themselves, starts on March 30 and continues until May 4. Parallel to this exhibition, my online solo exhibition titled “Possibilities” is live on Artnivo. After this period, I hope to bring my relations with Turkey and Istanbul closer and to be more active in exhibitions. In addition, the exhibition and active productions based in London continue…
Pop Quiz
Can you describe your art in three words?
According to art terminology, it is considered conceptual abstract within the scope of contemporary art, but I think it is futuristic, innovative and mystical.
If you had the chance, who would be the artist you would like to meet?
I would like to spend some time with Hilma Af Klint and hear her life experience from her mouth.
What is the most important work of art of all time?
Two or three examples come to mind, such as Tracey Emin's Bed and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.
What are your favorite galleries and museums in Türkiye and around the world?
It's such a long list... Baksı in Bayburt , OMM in Eskişehir , Arter in Istanbul in Turkey.
In London, the National Gallery and Victoria and Albert, Tate Britain and Modern, the Serpentine and the Royal Academy are some of the inspiring museums and institutions. The K21 Museum of Contemporary Art in Düsseldorf, the Langen Foundation in Neuss, the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, the Orangerie in Paris, the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the Hamburger Bahnhof and Pergamon in Berlin.
What piece of art would you like to have in your home?
I wouldn't say no to Hilma af Klint, Joan Mitchell, Agnes Martin, Tomas Saraceno, Richard Serra, Fahrelnissa Zeid, and also Monet.
Which city inspires you?
Difficult question, there are so many places I want to see and there is always something left from every place I go, but the top picks right now are London and Istanbul.
What were the last three exhibitions you visited?
Just today I saw a wonderful solo exhibition by Gerhard Richter at David Zwirner and Albert Oehlen at Gagosian, as well as a curatorial exhibition called “Seeing Red” at the Philips Auction House gallery.
If you were not an artist, what profession would you choose?
As someone who believes that establishing a relationship with this life can be through art and science, I see that mine is not a career choice but rather a choice to understand, think and produce life. Therefore, I can say that if there was no art, there would be science. I could have been a biologist, a physicist or a mathematician.