CANAN KÖSE

Artist Statement

I observe that at the center of the historical narrative extending from the past to the present lies a narrative stripped of emotional depth.  It  focuses largely on male leaders, wars, victories, defeats, and urbanization that are shaped around them. I believe this has contributed to the devaluation of women and the marginalization of "ordinary" people. This situation is normalized in the subconscious of society and recreates inequalities. In particular, social inequalities shaped by male hegemony and the will to power, violence against women, conflicts and wars ignore collective life and nature, and ultimately carry the potential to destroy humanity.

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In my work, while I analyze people, events and situations from a deconstructive perspective to understand the reasons for these actions, I also make an effort to ensure that the tragedies resulting from their consequences (migration, femicide, impoverishment) are not forgotten. Through a critical perspective, I sometimes reimagine history, and at other times, create contemporary historical documents blending them with emotions. By bringing back neglected and overlooked figures from the dusty pages of history through my art, I aim to preserve people, events, and realities of today that may never be remembered in the historical record. In doing so, I hope to create a critical awareness of the past and the present.

I draw inspiration from the life stories of those around me, current events, films I watch, history books I read, and satirical magazines. My art practice is based on keeping a record of the destructive behaviors created by the dark side of humans and the tragedies they cause.

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Since I feel that this darkness we create is stupid and becomes funny because it lasts for a long time, I caricature the figures in my paintings and embrace the possibility that looking at our lives that have turned into comedy with a smile can create a transformation. And I seek answers to the following questions: “Why do we struggle to coexist?” and “Why have we inflicted pain on each other for thousands of years?”

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As a result, I believe my art will serve as a tool to encourage dialogue, challenge oppressive structures, and confront the injustices that affect our society. Through the synergy of dynamic language, powerful imagery, and thought-provoking metaphors, I aim to ignite social change and help create a more compassionate and equitable world. I hope that one day, somewhere, my art will contribute to the shaping of a more peaceful, collective, egalitarian, liberatory, empathetic, and less painful society.

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In my practice, I primarily use oil paint. By pouring acrylic to create a parchment-like effect on linen canvas, I draw an alternative history. From a distance, my works may seem joyful and peaceful, yet upon closer inspection, they become darker—like a puzzle with hidden truths. I have recently embraced the use of second-hand and salvaged materials in my art — not only as a gesture toward ecological responsibility, but as a poetic extension of my themes. Just as I seek to unearth forgotten people and overlooked histories, I also collect discarded objects, embedding them with new meaning and voice. These materials, with their hidden stories and weathered surfaces, become quiet witnesses to the cycles of destruction and rebirth that shape both our physical and emotional landscapes.

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The artists who inspire and resonate with me include Wangechi Mutu, Grayson Perry, Michael Kvium, Hieronymus Bosch, and Jonas Burgert.