Koyuncu Okca 'Towards the Essence', Gökgöl 'Anatolia's Ciphers' Solo Exhibitions at PAU
Personal exhibitions of Pamukkale University Denizli Vocational School of Technical Sciences (DTBMYO) Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Koyuncu Okca and famous artist Özbilen Gökgöl were presented to art lovers with the opening ceremony held at PAU Faculty of Education.
In her academic studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Koyuncu Okca, who examines the issues of culture, Yoruk culture, traditional weavings, traditional professions that are about to disappear and the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, has chosen to raise awareness of the society by drawing attention to social problems in her artistic works. Having national and international solo exhibitions, national and international group exhibitions, articles published in Turkey and abroad, many papers presented in national and international symposiums-congresses, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Koyuncu Okca also works as a researcher and consultant in design centers.
About her 10th solo exhibition 'Towards the Essence' consisting of woven-weaving works, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Koyuncu Okca stated the following: "The most ancient art that Turks gifted to the world is the art of weaving. In parallel with the increase in the human population in the world, the decrease in natural resources is worrying us and future generations about the accessibility of these natural resources. Irregular rainfall, sudden rises in sea levels, natural disasters that increase day by day are among the most obvious indicators of environmental degradation. The equitable use of resources for a sustainable environment is the most precious legacy to be left to future generations. The new generation is now more environmentally friendly and more responsible towards what is happening around them. Each individual is responsible for raising awareness about the climate crises caused by global warming through various activities, ensuring adaptation and reducing the factors that cause it. Based on this sense of responsibility, I believe that the climates are changing and therefore the resources should be used more efficiently in order to make our lives, which depend on cotton thread, more livable. With this exhibition, I wanted to draw attention to these issues. In this collection of twelve works, cotton thread was used completely and the most basic techniques in the art of weaving, which clearly reveal the elegance of Turkish culture, were combined with the art of knitting, and it was aimed to draw attention to the change in seasons and months by revealing each season and each month with its metamorphosed colors. While naming this collection, the twelve-animal Turkish calendar served as a guide. Because as long as every data that reveal our essence as a society in the depths of Turkish culture continue to be the sources of inspiration for today and the future, Turkish culture will continue to exist in life in a vibrant and dynamic way."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Koyuncu Okca's works and artist Özbilen Gökgöl's textile and ceramic works in the exhibition titled 'Anatolia's Ciphers', the artist said the following about the exhibition: "It was a great chance for me and my art that I started my education in New York, which shaped Western art. Both my education in 1985 and my work in different layers in America helped me to understand the West and the East as a whole. Being an artist and an academic gave me the chance to compare the education system in America with Turkey. In the end, I returned to my country to give my knowledge back to Anatolia by kneading the accumulation of culture I took from Anatolia with western culture. Currently, I reach out to Anatolian artists and academics and tell them about the arts and cultures of American Indian societies, modern western art and western art education and perspective. My philosophy is that no matter who is dealing with art, if they are dealing with art, they are my field of interest. As for the subjects I work on, I integrate Anatolian Neolithic ceramic forms with Native American symbols and fire them with Neolithic methods. In addition, transferring Anatolian silk, western (New York) graffiti and American Indian symbols to scarf designs with the codes I have developed. Designing and weaving Anatolian rugs with Navajo Indian motifs to integrate the separate cultures of the two continents. Keeping the desert Indian symbols alive in Anatolia by using the Anatolian black ceramic firing technique. In addition to these, to teach the pattern understanding of the western world to local producers. Because if we do not understand the west in design, our sales to the west, our biggest market, will not be very effective. In the meantime, my work continues in archaeological areas. Because there is no geography in the world with such a density of cultures. An artist who does not know history cannot succeed. For this reason, being from Anatolia has made me realize how valuable our people are as a result of our genetic codes coming from such rich cultures. I am aware of the talents of every young person, peasant, worker, student and young academics I have met, and every young person I have worked with so far excites me more, and it makes me happy for my country to see that they can take art further than me. In my humble opinion, let's not look down on each other, let's see each other as equals and let's make life beautiful with art by realizing that we are valuable. Let's work hard by looking for answers to for what reason and why questions.
