A graduate of French Language and Literature from Hacettepe University, Done Otyam also attended art courses in Bilkent and Hacettepe Universities. She founded Abitus and Zon galleries, she has also been the director of various other galleries and opened many exhibitions. Otyam has worked for various TV corporations as art director producing art related programs. She also conducted interviews for magazines and newspapers about art.
Otyam has curated “Sudaki Suret” held at the Dolmabahçe Cultural Center at Istanbul, “Buradan Çok Uzakta” held at the Ankara Train Station and the Istanbul Haydarpaşa Train Station, “I Received Your Invitation, Thank you!” held in Mardin. She was the curator and director of the 1st Mardin Biennial. Done Otyam continues to work as an art consultant. Most recently, she assumed the art consultant post of the m1886 art projects in Ankara.
Here are her As to our Qs!
When are you happiest?
Installing the exhibition or when I’m at home under the blanket…
What motivates you?
New projects… my dreams.
Which city or cities are centers of creativity and inspiration for you?
Mardin, Paris, Nairobi.
For you, what does Ankara stand for?
My childhood and my life.
Your most memorable journey?
I remember almost all of the journeys, however the most memorable journey was to Kenya.
Your favorite place to visit to get ideas?
My dreams are with me where ever I go.
Your most cherished possession?
My family.
Who or what inspired you to become a curator?
The fact that since my childhood I have been surrounded with artists and my father.
Key moment in your life?
Passing away of my mother.
Favorite recent discovery?
Cats.
Favorite artist of all times?
I can’t name only one of them.
How will you be remembered?
Crazy in a sweet way.
What can’t you live without?
Water.
What’s on repeat on your iPod?
La Boheme.
Names of people whom you think revolutionized the art world?
The people who has started a movement.
What is the trait you most deplore about yourself?
Being impetuous.
When you started working with Art, was there some things that you wanted to change and if yes, what were those?
I didn’t have such a claim but I wanted Art to be more present in our lives and more widely spread.
Names of people whom could change your point of view?
When a was little my father and his artist and journalist friends has guided my point of view. When I chose to follow my desire for the Arts, around my 20s, the things that I’ve learned from Tomur Atagök and Bedri Baykam help me to develop my point of view.
What motivates you while working?
Being able to have my opinion.