Ebru Özseçen

Ebru Özseçen
Born1971
Izmir, Türkiye
Websitehttps://ebruozsecen.net/

Ebru Özseçen (born 1971) is a contemporary Turkish artist[1] with works ranging in multiple artists practices, including but not limited to, urban interventions, sculptures, photography, videos & film instillations, and drawings.[2] Her works range in a multitude of aspects depicting artistic and architectural practices, wishing to display what is hidden in plain sight.[3] Özseçen is still actively creating and crafting new artworks as of 2023.

Early life and education

Born in Izmir, Türkiye, Özseçen went to various schools to hone in on her craft as an artist. She graduated from the Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department, School of Architecture at Bilkent University in Ankara, Türkiye in 1994.Özseçen then graduated from the same university with a master's degree from the Department of Fine Arts and the Institute of Economics and Social Sciences in 1996.[2][4]

Works and professional life

The Turkish artist is based within Europe.[1][4]

Much of her work reflects her background of architecture, design, and contemporary art. Through this lens, Özseçen wishes to explore phycological and sociological aspects between space and the body in her art. Her subjects focus in on the dualities of life and society; examples being, gender and public space.[5] In her art, she also embraces the emptiness as its own story and fantasy.[5][4][3] She also is focused in her use of concepts such as time, perception, ratio, and measurements within her works.[6][3]

Brief list of artworks

  • Şerbet (1999–2010): This is a film which displayed a stack of Burma Baklava with syrup pouring off the sides in the form of a skyscraper. Şerbet, Turkish sugar water, is constantly circulated to keep the dessert wet. Özseçen kept the film on loop to display and signify Eternal Love.[2]
  • Glass Flowers (1999): Özseçen crafted a series of photographs designed to display the reproductive organs of a flower to connect with humans.[7]
  • Balls (1997): This is one of the earlier works of this artist. In this photograph, Özseçen displays glass balls and pendants on a chandelier. It was photographed from an antique store in London. This is a theme Özseçen comes back to throughout much of her works.[8]
  • Jawbreaker (2009): In this photograph, Özseçen snapped a shot the moment a ball was almost in the subjects mouth. She saw the mouth and the jawbreaker as one, a submissive fetish, and must be coexisting to allow for breathing.[9]

Exhibitions participated in

Ebru Özseçen has participated in these exhibitions:[3][10]

  • 2023 ‘‘Drei Hubwagen und ein Blatt Papier’’, Neues Museum, Nuernberg
  • 2022 ‘‘Beyoğlu in Purgatory’’, Chamber of Architecture, İstanbul
  • 2022 ‘’This Play’’, Arter, İstanbul
  • 2020 ‘’On Celestial Bodies’’, Arter, İstanbul
  • 2019 ‘’Age of Gold ‘’, Galeri Nev, Ankara
  • 2017 "Symbiosis", The Visual Science of Art, Humboldt University, School of Mind and Brain, Berlin
  • 2015 "Histories and Stories", Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin
  • 2015 “Symbiosis for Maxforum”, Maxforum, Munich
  • 2015 “Challenging Identitites”, Concordia, Enschede
  • 2014 “Rainproof Ideas & More Editions”, Edition Block, Berlin
  • 2012 “The Fertile Crescent”, Mason Gross Galleries, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • 2012 “True Love Soul Mate”, Rampa, Istanbul (solo)
  • 2011 “Zwölf im Zwölften”, “TANAS, Berlin
  • 2011 “Dream and Reality”, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul
  • 2011 “Art Beat Istanbul”, Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre, Istanbul
  • 2011 “Multipliziern ist Menschlich: 45 Jahre Edition Block 1966 – 2011”, Edition Block, Berlin
  • 2011 “La Donna è Mobile”, Maçka Modern, Istanbul
  • 2010 “KISMET”, TANAS, Berlin (solo)
  • 2010 “Starter”, ARTER, Istanbul
  • 2010 “Intriguing Pictures”, Steinle Contemporary, Munich
  • 2009 “Jawbreaker”, Edition Block, Berlin (solo)
  • 2009 “Coastal Currents”, The Reading Room,12 Claremont, Hastings
  • 2009 “Who Killed The Painting?”, Weserburg Museum Fuer Moderne Kunst, Bremen
  • 2009 “Library Presentation”, Dover Library, Dover Discovery Centre, Dover (solo)
  • 2009 “Embarkation”, Town Centre Sign Boards, Dover (solo)
  • 2008 “Who Killed The Painting?”, Neues Museum, Nuernberg
  • 2008 “Food For Thought”, U-Turn Satellite Exhibitions, Stege Sukkerfabrik, Møn
  • 2008 “Mahrem: Footnotes on Veiling”, TANAS, Berlin
  • 2008 “Old News 4”, Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis
  • 2008 “Paradise Revealed : Reanimation of Place”, The Charlton Shopping Centre Parking, Dover (public space)
  • 2008 “Paradise Revealed : Reanimation of Place”, The Pine’s Garden St.Margaret’s Bay, Kent (public space)
  • 2007 “Slow Space Fast Pace”, Cork Art Trial, Cork (public space)
  • 2007 “Türkisch Delight”, Städtische Galerie Nordhorn, Nordhorn
  • 2007 “Türkisch Delight”, Städtische Galerie Backnang, Backnang
  • 2007 “Modern and Beyond”, Santral Istanbul, Istanbul
  • 2007 “Inbetweeness”, Ex Carceri del Complesso di San Michele a Ripa, Roma
  • 2006 “Master Works of Media Art _ ZKM Collection”, ZKM, Karlsruhe
  • 2005 “o.T. [ City IV ]”, Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig
  • 2004 “Les Points du Jour”, Pont de Versailles, Paris (public space)
  • 2004 “Love it or Leave it”, Vth Cetinje Biennial,Cetinje
  • 2004 “Fading Lace”, Plantage Kerklaan 30, Amsterdam (public space)
  • 2004 “Liste 04”, Galerist, Basel
  • 2003 “In den Schluchten des Balkan: Eine Reportage”, Museum Fridericianum, Kassel
  • 2003 “Shadows and Ghosts”, Platform, Istanbul
  • 2002 “Individual Geographies Global Maps”, Nisantasi, Istanbul (public space)
  • 2002 “Metropolis Now”, Reine Sofia Museum, Madrid
  • 2002 “Time Light”, Whistable Biennial, Whistable
  • 2002 “Latent Space”, Netherlands Architecture Institute, Rotterdam
  • 2002 “Time: Nature”, Galerie Tanya Rumpff, Haarlem
  • 2002 “Iconografias Metropolitanas”, São Paulo Biennial, São Paulo
  • 2002 "Armory", Henry Urbach Architecture, New York
  • 2002 "Anniversary Show", Henry Urbach Architecture, NewYork
  • 2001 "Sugar Top Girl", Henry Urbach Architecture, New York (solo)
  • 2001 "Metropolis Now", Borusan Art Center, Istanbul
  • 2001 "Regrets Reveries Changing Skies", Karsi Sanat, Istanbul
  • 2001 "Trans Sexual Express", Barcelona Triennale, Barcelona
  • 2001 "Graham, Özseçen, Trockel", Milchoff, Nürnberg
  • 2001 "Locus Focus", Sonsbeek 9, Arnhem
  • 2001 "The Big Blue", Tate Modern, London
  • 2001 "Unlimited, nl-4", De Appel Foundation, Amsterdam
  • 2001 "Les Interieur du Monde", Zaanstad Museum, Zaanstad
  • 2000 "City", Science and Technology Museum, Coimbra (solo)
  • 2000 "Living The Island", Metropolitan Museum of Art, Busan
  • 2000 "Ex Lux", Kunsthalle Tirol, Tirol
  • 2000 "Das Lied von Der Erde", Museum Fridericianum, Kassel
  • 2000 "Strange Home", Kestner Museum, Hannover
  • 2000 "Springtime", Nikolaj Art Center, Copenhagen
  • 2000 "Arguments", Ataturk Cultural Center, Istanbul
  • 2000 "Friends and Neighbours", Limerick Biennial Ev+A, Limerick
  • 1999 “Arguments”, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneve
  • 1999 “Out of Nowhere”, Artotek, Schidam/Leiden/ CBK, Dordrecht
  • 1999 “Passion and Wave”, The 6th International Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul
  • 1999 “17th World Wide Video Festival”, Melkweg Cafe, Amsterdam
  • 1999 “Iskorpit”, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe
  • 1998 “Iskorpit”, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin
  • 1998 “Scar”, Netherlands Architecture Institute, Rotterdam
  • 1998 “Open Ateliers”, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam
  • 1997 “On life, beauty, translation and other difficulties...”, The 5th Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul
  • 1997 “Biennial of Young Artists of Europe and Mediterranean”, Cavelerizza, Torino
  • 1997 “Biennial of Young Artists of Europe and Mediterranean”, Kapelitahdas, Helsinki
  • 1997 “The Big Blue”, Coins, London
  • 1996 “You have the Midas touch”, Macka Art Gallery, Istanbul
  • 1996 “Kehanet”, Bilkent University, Ankara
  • 1996 “Dorm”, Bilkent University Girl’s Dorm, Ankara (solo)
  • 1996 “Deterritoralization”, TÜYAP Tepebasi, Istanbul
  • 1996 “The Other”, Findikli, Antrepo, Istanbul

Collections housing artworks[3]

  • Collection Block, Møn/Berlin
  • B.A.C.O.B. Collection, Brussels
  • Rijksakademie, Amsterdam
  • Science and Technology Museum, Coimbra
  • Podesta Collection, Washington, D.C.
  • Opymos Collection, Istanbul
  • ZKM, Karlsruhe
  • Vehbi Koç Contemporary Art Collection, Istanbul

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Roberta (4 May 2001). "ART IN REVIEW; Ebru Ozsecen -- 'Sugar Top Girl'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Ebru Özseçen". Signs Journal. 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e "RÉSUMÉ CV – EBRU ÖZSEÇEN" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  4. ^ a b c The Fertile Crescent: Gender, Art, and Society catalogue, ed. Judith K. Brodsky and Ferris Olin (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2012), 140
  5. ^ a b Özseçen, Ebru. "Signification of the Artwork in Relation to Its Placement Within Space." ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 1996. Print.
  6. ^ "Ebru Özseçen". Dover Arts Development. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  7. ^ "GLASS FLOWERS – EBRU ÖZSEÇEN" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  8. ^ "BALLS – EBRU ÖZSEÇEN" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  9. ^ "JAWBREAKER – EBRU ÖZSEÇEN" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  10. ^ "Opymos Collection". www.opymoscollection.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.