All and None

7 Sep-7 Oct 2023

Credit: Photo by Hadiye Cangökçe, Courtesy of Pilevneli Gallery, Istanbul

Overview

JD Malat Gallery is honoured to announce the opening of ‘All and None’ a solo exhibition by Turkish artist Zümrütoğlu (b.1970).  As his third solo exhibition with the gallery on view from the 9th of September to the 7th of October “All and None’ marks a significant milestone in Zümrütoğlu’s artistic journey. Showcasing his evolution and mastery of visual storytelling and expression, Zümrütoğlu’s multidimensional large-scale paintings and sculptures invite viewers into a realm where reality and abstraction coalesce.  Functioning as an exploration into the sublime, “All and None” prompts contemplation on the relationships between presence and absence and the ultimate impermanence of being.

Since his earlier work of the 1990’s Zümrütoğlu has established himself as one of Turkey’s leading emerging artists. Born in Konya, Turkey, in 1970 Zümrütoğlu studied the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey. After finishing his degree in 1996, Zümrütoğlu travelled to Belgium and Holland where he became fascinated with European painting specifically the genres of German expressionism and physical abstraction. Zümrütoğlu’s artistic tapestry is further interwoven with the literary threads of Joseph Conrads, ‘The Heart of Darkness.’ This seminal work has infused his creations with a profound exploration of physiological anxiety and the enigmatic concept of the 'dissonant and disharmonious body.' New to Zümrütoğlu’s body of work, making his third solo exhibition even more profound is the inclusion of words and letters within his painterly compositions. Adding new layers of visual interpretation words such as ‘Anar’ translated from Turkish as ‘remember’ become complementary subjects in his paintings. Skilfully intertwining both artistic and literary influences Zümrütoğlu’s paintings and sculptures are a symphony of emotion and complexity, inviting viewers to navigate the intricate contours of the human experience in times of transition. 

Exhibiting new impastoed oil paintings as well as bronze sculptures, the figures that inhabit Zümrütoğlu's expansive works exist in a state of perpetual transformation. Oscillating between representation and physical abstraction, they embody a captivating metamorphosis. Through mark-making and bold brush strokes, Zümrütoğlu translates these figures into objects of pure pigment, allowing them to dissolve seamlessly into their material essence before re-emerging into their figurative form. This dynamic process invites viewers to question the very nature of perception and representation. Often feet and hands remain recognizable emerging from the masses of swirling colour alluding to the influence of time on the erosion of bodies and challenging the association of identity with form.  

Deftly manipulating spatial relationships Zümrütoğlu’s figurative shapes inhabit the same perspectival projection as the ground and the surreal layered sunsets that often inhabit his paintings. The artist’s rich and evocative colour palettes serve as a living testament to his personal encounter with synaesthesia, where each hue resonates with its own harmonious melody. Infusing both his paintings and sculptures with an auditory rhythm; Zümrütoğlu communicates the speed of transition, guiding us through an intense metamorphosis to ultimately contemplate themes of the dehumanization of modernity and human impermanence.

‘All and None’ invites viewers to immerse themselves in the enchanting realm of perspectival complexities, surreal landscapes, and evocative colour harmonies that embody the artist’s deep fascination with the psychological construct of being. Marking an exciting chapter in his ongoing collaboration with JD Malat Gallery, we are delighted to announce the eagerly awaited third solo exhibition with renowned Turkish artist Zümrütoğlu.

Artists