(Versione italiana) by Andrea Giostra - Ciao
Hale, welcome and thank you for your availability. To our readers who would
like to know something more about you as an artist, what would you tell? Who is
Hale?
I have always focused on three dimensional narratives
since the beginning of my career. They are either in form of large scale
installations or videos, sculptures and photographs. I’m inspired by political,
historical and psychological references. My first solo show was in 1990, so it
has been 28 years up till now and I have exhibited extensively both in Turkey
and abroad since then. My show here at Rizzuto Gallery in Palermo is the first
gallery presentation of my works in Italy. Beforehand I participated in two
biennials in Italy, the last 57th Biennale di Venezia in 2017 and the 2nd Attese
Biennale of Ceramics in Contemporary Art, in Albisola, in 2003.
Tell
us about your exhibition in Palermo, which you entitled "Beirut",
open to the public, with free admission, at Rizzuto Gallery until 1 September
2018? What is the message you want to give with this exhibition?
We are presenting two works, “Beirut" video and
the sculpture “World Cracker.” What both works have in common is their
reference to the fragility of our existence in this world. Beirut is a poetic narration of the life we
as humans have built where peaceful periods of time are frequently interrupted
by political violence and injustices. World Cracker is a sculpture I made back
in 1992. It reflects on economical injustices related to politics. After the
fall of Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the breaking up of Soviet Union in
December 1991, Istanbul was flooded with goods from ex-soviet countries.
Brought to Istanbul by desperate citizens, they carried whatever they could
bring. These odd goods were sold by street vendors on streets of Istanbul. The
russian nut cracker I use in the sculpture is one of them, the goods were given
out to the workers by the bankrupt factories, instead of salary payments.
What
do you think of the art world of Palermo and Sicily? And what do you think of
the people you met in Palermo who deal with contemporary art?
It has been a great experience. I’m very impressed by
the lively and charming atmosphere of Palermo and the politeness and warmness
of Palermitans. My heart is with Palermo. I’m grateful to Giovanni Rizzuto and
Eva Oliveri for everything, they have made me feel at home in every means, also
thankful to Tiziana Pantaleo. Through Rizzuto Gallery I made lot of contacts,
both Palermitans and Italians, it was a great honor for me to meet them and hear
their precious feedbacks on the exhibition.
How
was your passion for visual art?
I love what I'm doing and feel extremely lucky that
I'm involved in visual arts. I studied computer programming first and realized
it was not for me and went into studying arts. Ever since then art has been my
focus in life.
Why
do you think art, painting, sculpture are important today and should be
promoted and followed by all those who want to know and learn?
Art has always been important, that’s why we still
love seeing ancient works also, not only contemporary ones. It is a form of
language that is unique and we “receive" a lot from it. It enriches our
understanding and knowledge of the world we live in.
What
would you recommend to young women and men who want to try their hand at your
profession, at your passion?
To follow their intuitions and be open to receive
inputs from a wide range of sources, such as arts, literature, music, politics
and all. And be stubborn to carry on in doing what they believe in, work hard
but be patient at the same time.
I have another work that is on show in an outdoor
international group exhibition in Cappadocia. The exhibition opened on the same
day as in Palermo, on 14th June. I installed my piece early in Cappadocia and
came to Palermo. Now I want to go back and see the show. It is titled “Silence”
and curated by Fulya Erdemci and Ilgın Deniz Akseloğlu as part of Cappadox. I
was commissioned to do a new work which is titled “Life, Death, Love and
Justice.” It is a sound installation in a valley in Ortahisar, Cappadocia
surrounded with rocky volcanic formations, ancient pigeon houses and a small
stream.
Though I’m new in it, they can follow me on Instagram,
my account name is @cinporseleni. I also have a Facebook account but I’m not
much active in it. They can also check Galeri Nev Istanbul website, the gallery
I work with in Istanbul, and also Green Art Gallery in Dubai.
Hale
Tenger
Galleries where Hale Tanger
exhibits:
Hale
Tenger | Beirut
Inaugurazione: giovedì 14 giugno 2018, ore 19:00
Visitabile fino al 1° settembre 2018
dal martedì al sabato | 16.00-20.00
RIZZUTOGALLERY
Palermo, via Maletto, 5 – via Merlo, 36/40
+39 091 779 5443
+39 347 176 9901
Andrea
Giostra