| Mehmet
Ayanoglu
Artist Statement
These drawings and paintings are inspired by “Tugra”.
Tugra is the symbol of the Ottoman Sultan’s authority.
It was affixed to all official documents, fermans, correspondence
and coins during his reign. Each sultan chose his personal
tugra immediately after his accession and used it throughout
his life.
Each work represents a sultan that has significance for me
and has a tale: such as Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror commanded
his army to finally take Constantinople, or Sultan Bayezit
the Thunderbolt galloped his cavalry from West to East to
meet Timur the Lame, and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent,
during his reign, reached the empire to its peak.
Certainly there are no more sultans in Istanbul, but their
heritage is large and looming in me, since I like history
and love the relation of events between past and present.
Resume
Mehmet Ayanoglu was born in Istanbul and lives and works
in New York.
Education
1999-2001 |
New York Institute of Technology, New York, United
States MA in Communication Arts |
| 1991-1997 |
Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul, Turkey BA in Painting |
Solo Exhibitions
2006 |
Exodus, Moon and Stars Project, New
York, NY |
| 2005 |
Release Me, My Moon Art Space, Brooklyn,
NY |
1997 |
The End, Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul,
Turkey |
Group Exhibitions
| 2007 |
Faber Birren National, Stamford Art
Association, Stamford, CT |
| 2007 |
72nd National, Cooperstown Art Association,
Cooperstown, NY |
2007 |
Anje 2, 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, FL |
2007 |
ArtFutura, Chicago Cultural Center,
Chicago, IL |
2007 |
National Prize Show, Cambridge Art, Kathryn Schultz
Gallery, Cambridge, MA |
2007 |
High Stairway, Korean Cultural Center,
Los Angeles, CA |
2007 |
Paperworks: On and of paper, University
of West Florida, FL |
2007 |
Artists Council, Palm Springs Art Museum,
CA |
2007 |
Paperwork In, On and of Paper, Foundry
Art Centre, MT |
2006 |
The Body: Postcards from the Edge, Sikkema & Jenkins
Co., New York, NY |
2006 |
Annual December Show, Projekt30, NY |
2006 |
Gala, Nurture Art, Brooklyn, NY |
2005 |
Night of Drawings, Artist Space, New
York, NY |
2004 |
In and Out, AG Gallery, Brooklyn, NY |
2003 |
Night of 1001 Drawings, Artist Space,
New York, NY |
1997 |
Drawing on Drawing, Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul,
Turkey
|
Publications
2007 |
“Tugras on Canvas”, Elle
Décor, Istanbul, Turkey |
| 2006 |
“New York Sculptor Explores New Dimensions”,
Colorado Magazine, Denver, CO |
2006 |
“Exodus” Review, Turkuaz
Magazine, New York, NY |
2005 |
“An Art Story”, Maison Francaise,
Istanbul, Turkey |
2005 |
A Turkish Artist in Brooklyn: Mehmet Ayanoglu, Hillsider,
Istanbul, Turkey |
Experience
2003-2006 |
Artists Space, New York, NY Adjunct Curator |
| 2002-2003 |
Artists Space, New York, NY Gallery Assistant |
1997-1998 |
Istanbul Foundation for the Arts, Istanbul,
Turkey Gallery Manager
Executed on-premise exhibitions at the 5th Istanbul
Biennial.
|
1995-1996 |
Istanbul Foundation for the Arts, Istanbul,
Turkey Production Manager
Worked in the production of special projects of the
4th Istanbul Biennial |
Awards
2007 |
“Best of Show”, 621 Gallery,
FL |
| 2007 |
“Selection Award”, Korean
Cultural Center, CA |
2006 |
“Exhibition Grant 2006”,
Moon and Stars Project, NY |
1997 |
“First Place Award”, Mimar
Sinan University, Istanbul, Turkey |
Collectors
Simon Mason
Candeger Furtun
Joseph Krummel
Erik Tacacs
Cana Sorak
Okay Alp
|
