WORKS
BEEHIVES
Beehives
Turkish Beehives, which describes the social and economic stratification in Turkey, was inspired by the cartoon "The British Beehive" drawn by British illustrator George Cruikshank in 1840. Turkish Beehive 2022 is a depiction of a nine-storey hell. Turkish Beehive 2023 is a pit darker than hell and a cage that is gradually decaying. Women could not find an important place in any layer. It took me about 6 months to make these paintings, which show a tired society that is struggling with the increasing irregular immigrant population, unemployment and destruction, shaken by an earthquake, accustomed to death and ready to face the worse, and how it is buried in darkness. The inhabitants of the hive, where the middle class disappears and the layers decrease, experience the inability to live together, violence and injustice.
Premium Beehive shows how a lot of money affects people in a funny and tragic way.
The Hive of the Mediocre Fun is about how people have fun when they find some money after working long hours and days.
Arıkovanları
Türkiye’deki sosyal ve ekonomik tabakalaşmayı anlatan Türk Arıkovanları İngiliz illüstratör George Cruikshank’ın 1840’da çizdiği “The British Beehive” adlı karikatüründen ilham aldı. Türk Arıkovanı 2022 dokuz katlı bir cehennem tasviri. Türk Arıkovanı 2023 ise cehennemden daha karanlık bir çukur ve gitgide çürüyen bir kafes. Kadınlar hiçbir katmanda kendisine önemli bir yer bulamamış. Artan düzensiz göçmen nüfusuyla, işsizlikle ve yıkımla mücadele ederken depremle sarsılan, ölümü kanıksamış ve daha kötüsüyle karşılaşmaya hazır ama yorgun bir toplumu ve onun karanlıklara nasıl gömüldüğünü gösteren bu resimlerimi yapmam yaklaşık 6 ay sürdü. Orta sınıfın yok olup katmanların azaldığı kovanın sakinleri, bir arada yaşayamayışı, şiddeti ve adaletsizliği deneyimliyor.
Premium Arıkovanı çok paranın insanları düşürdüğü trajik ve komik halleri anlatıyor.
Ortadirek Eğlencesi ise haftanın 6 günü çalışıp bir günü kendine ayıran orta ve alt sosyo-ekonomik sınıfın eğlence tarzına odaklanıyor.
***
NEIGHBOURS
Neighbours
Humanity initially distanced itself from nature, then sought closeness with one another. They constructed buildings and cities to foster togetherness. However, it wasn't long before they realized that harmonious coexistence was not easily achievable. This raises the question: Why do we struggle to coexist?
Canan Köse's series "Neighbours" focuses on the inability of individuals and societies to live together, conflicts arising from political, religious, economic or cultural differences, and the violence, fights and conflicts that arise as a result of these conflicts. Addressing the weakening of the bonds that hold individuals and societies together, the replacement of reality by lies or fiction, and the influence of the media, the artist invites the audience to notice and question while focusing on the causes of conflicts.
Stating that the long-lasting destructive behavior of humanity has turned into a comedy, the artist also makes frequent references to Bertolt Brecht's play, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, an epic opera. Everything is free in the city of Mahagonny. Nothing should be forbidden for human beings to be satisfied. A person can kill, steal, burn and destroy if they want. The biggest crime is lack of money. Criminals such as thieves and murderers have already established the city. In short, the city of Mahagonny is a corrupt, rotten city. According to Brecht, the world is actually Mahagonny. Mahagonny is also the world. It is a human-contaminated settlement composed of corrupt systems.
Komşular
İnsan önce doğadan uzaklaştı, sonra birbirine yaklaştı. Bir arada olabilmek için binalar yaptı, şehirler kurdu. Ancak çok geçmeden fark etti ki, birbiriyle de geçinmesi mümkün değildi… O zaman soru şu: Neden bir arada yaşayamıyoruz?
***
ANALYSES
Analyses
"The mundane objects we see every single day, the texts we have grown accustomed to reading, the patterns in the system formed by meanings that often escape us even when we hear them, all transform into puzzles awaiting solutions. The past, in turn, becomes a curtain veiling the eyes of the present."
In her series "Analysis", Canan Köse examines violent human behaviours that arise from the pursuit of pleasure, power, and wealth, stemming from feelings of worthlessness and conflicts deep within our minds. Examining the messages hidden in the relationship people have with objects from past to present, the artist interprets the world created by those who hold power, adding satire.
The artist places her compositions, which she blends with the themes of fear, hope, violence, obedience and fight, on timeless and spaceless backgrounds, and expresses her approach as follows: 'Our connection with the past, our memories and our habits prevent us from looking objectively at the objects we see, the articles we read, the events or people we encounter. It blocks like a curtain, it stands before us like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Capturing the similarities between current events and the past is like solving this puzzle.'
Çözümlemeler
Her gün gördüğümüz nesneler, okumaya alıştığımız yazılar, duysak da ayırt edemediğimiz anlamların oluşturduğu sistem içerisinde yer alan örüntüler, çözülmeyi bekleyen bulmacalara dönüşür. Geçmiş ise günümüzün gözlerini örten bir perdeye...
All rights reserved. Tüm hakları saklıdır.
About Me
My story begins in a small district called Savaştepe, located in the west of Anatolia. I spent my developmental years in nature, exploring the world of mud, wood, herbs and stones. During my educational journey, I had the privilege of studying at Savaştepe Anatolian Teacher High School. Founded in 1940, this institution was originally established to train teachers with a wide range of skills such as musical proficiency, farming, construction, as well as a comprehensive understanding of science, mathematics, nature, language and more. My mother, a talented tailor, passed on her wisdom on herbs, nature and sewing to me, and she entertained me with a series of fascinating local anecdotes. These stories not only brought laughter and joy, but also sparked reflection and heartfelt emotions. This background has greatly enriched my imagination and enhanced my skills.
I have been creating oil paintings for approximately 20 years. Since starting on my academic studies in the field of education, my artistic focus has shifted towards human behaviour. Through my artwork, I dive into the underlying reasons behind humanity's potential to disrupt ecological harmony and harm its own existence.
In 2019, my series "Analysis" was selected for the Mamut Art Project, which is a platform dedicated to select and promote emerging artists. This marked a turning point in my artistic career. Since 2021, I have been working with MERKUR, a contemporary art gallery based in Istanbul, Turkey.
I use oil painting, acrylic, permanent marker and collage on linen or canvas.
Solo Exhibitions
2013 Orada Bir Yerde, Cihangir Sanat Galerisi, Istanbul, Turkey
2012 Gel, Tayyare Kültür Merkezi, Bursa, Turkey
Group Exhibitions
2024 ARTweeks, MERKUR Galeri, İstanbul, Turkey
2023 ARTweeks @Akaretler, MERKUR Galeri, İstanbul, Turkey
2023 Contemporary Istanbul 18th Edition, MERKUR Galeri, Istanbul, Turkey
2023 Nefes Vol. VI, MERKUR Galeri, İstanbul, Turkey
2022 ARTweeks@Akaretler-7, MERKUR Galeri, İstanbul, Turkey
2022 Nefes Vol. V, MERKUR Galeri, İstanbul, Turkey
2021 ARTweeks@Akaretler-5, MERKUR Galeri, İstanbul, Turkey
2021 Music to My Eyes, MERKUR Galeri, Bodrum, Turkey
2019 Mamut Art Project -2019 İstanbul, Turkey
2019 Art50.net Online Galeri, Turkey
2010 Karma Sergi, Ressam Sefik Bursalı Sanat Galerisi, Bursa, Turkey
2004 Renkler, Uludag Universitesi Rektörlük Sanat Galerisi, Bursa, Turkey
Education
2014-2023
Doctorate Degree
Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey
Institute of Educational Sciences
Curriculum and Instruction
2008-2012
Master of Arts (MA)
Uludag University, Bursa Turkey
Graduate School of Educational Sciences
Educational Programs and Instruction
2003-2007
Bachelor of Arts
Uludag University, Bursa Turkey
Faculty of Education
Department of Foreign Language Education
English Language Teacher Education
Artist Statement
My practice is based on investigating the darker side of humanity and the devastating acts of people against nature and their own existence. I examine societal issues such as cultural transformations, social stratification, violence, gender inequality, migration, and male dominance using humour. My primary sources of inspiration are oral stories, news and people. Through my art, I ask the questions “Why cannot we live together in peace?” and “Why do we suffer from one another’s deeds?”. Within my paintings, I construct a narrative that exposes the harsh realities of a world tainted by greed and power. By amplifying the voices of those who have been silenced, I aim to tear down the walls that limit and diminish human potential. I see my works as a puzzle that gives happiness when viewed as a whole and gets darker as you dive deep into the details.
By juxtaposing images of conflict and destruction, I invite viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths surrounding violence, while highlighting the urgent need for empathy, diplomacy, and peaceful resolution.
Ultimately, my art serves as a potent tool to incite dialogue, challenge oppressive structures, and confront the injustices that plague our society. Through the synergy of dynamic language, powerful imagery, and thought-provoking metaphors, I want to ignite a flame of social change, fostering a more compassionate and just world for all.
News
Current Exhibition / Güncel Sergi
NEFES Vol. VI
19 Aug./Ağustos - 19 Sept./Eylül 2023
Upcoming Works/ Gelecek İşler
Contemporary Istanbul 18th Edition
26-27 Sept./Eylül 2023- Vip Preview
28 Sept./Eylül- 01 Oct./Ekim 2023- General Admission
ARTWEEKS-Akaretler
Beşiktaş-Istanbul
1 Nov./Kasım 2023
Contact
You can contact me with any questions and comments.
To buy my art, please contact with MERKUR Gallery.
Istanbul, Turkey