Yesim Akdeniz ’s stunning paintings have been shown at international contemporary art institutions such as Bonn Kunstverein, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Museum de Paviljoens Almere, PAK Kunstverein Hamburg, Kunstverein Frankfurt and Saatchi Gallery London. The artist is graduated at the Art Academy Duesseldorf in 2002 then has participated in residency programs of de Atelier’s, Amsterdam and Platform Istanbul. She lives and works in Istanbul and is represented by Dirimart Gallery.
Yesim Akdeniz reveals the impacts of the power structures and the visible and invisible control mechanisms on the individuals and their unconscious. She draws her inspiration and her artistic language from the very environment that she lives in and she represents her very surroundings with a critical touch. Yesim Akdeniz transmits anything she sees, reads, listens to and experiences in her own artistic style through her paintings.
Here are her As to our Qs!
When are you happiest?
I’m like a cat on hot bricks.
What motivates you?
Coffee in the morning, make-up in the evening.
Which city or cities are centers of creativity and inspiration for you?
It doesn’t have to be a city. For me the whole thing is about light.
For you, what does Istanbul stand for?
Challenging the resources.
What do you think about the city (cities) you live in?
Zurich: sticking étiquettes on the trash bags
Berlin: international nighterie
Dusseldorf: beuys forever
Amsterdam: chasing the ‘dutch light’ under the never ending dutch rain
New York: never ending consume
Paris: love
Ankara: no
London: guest lists
Istanbul: will rock but not yet
Which era would you have preferred to live in?
Now.
What’s your current source of inspiration?
Surreal porn.
Your most memorable journey?
The African pavilion at the documenta11. I was 12 at the time.the moment I sensed the ‘European gaze on exotic’ was tough.
Who or what inspired you to be an artist?
When I was 5, my dad took me to a life -drawing class at the art academy where he used to teach. I drew the naked woman on a desk without hesitation, I remember. That was a very natural act at the time and I never questioned that ever since.
What themes or visuals do you enjoy painting about the most?
Rhinoceros at the edge of a nervous breakdown
Your favorite place to visit to get ideas?
The next book store.
Your most cherished possession?
My talent.
How would you describe your world in 3 words?
Never come back.
Key moment in your life?
The moment when I fell to the ground while running.that manifested important facts to me even though I figured out many of them many years later.
Favorite recent discovery?
Certificated seeds.
Favorite artist of all times?
Jed Martin.
How will you be remembered?
As the painter.
What can’t you live without?
Without my heart right?
What’s on repeat on your iPod?
I like radio.
Names of people whom you think revolutionized the art world?Sometimes I think the holy books did that reluctantly every nowandthen.
What’s your motto?
I’m not into mottos.
If your creative works had an odor, what do you think they would smell like?
I wish my studio would smell better then oil colors and turpentine but life can be mean.
What is your favorite shop?
Bisazza in Milan is not bad at all.
What would you title your autobiography?
Same but different.
What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
There is a stuffed animal in my fridge. Believe it or not.
Is there a creative activity that you want to pursue that you have been postponing? What is it?
My new artist book which was supposed to be published last year. I am postponing it forever.
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. With whom would it be?
David Bowie.