In November 2024, I was fortunate to participate in the A.R.C. Residency, a fully funded artist residency hosted by Taşkonaklar Hotel in Uçhisar, Cappadocia, Türkiye. During five immersive days there, I spent long hours working inside the region’s ancient, hand-carved cave dwellings—spaces shaped entirely by human hands moving through stone.
What struck me most was the sensation of being held within these interiors. The curving walls, rounded openings, and softened transitions created a feeling of warmth and containment, deeply different from the sharp angles and rigid geometries of contemporary architecture. Light moved slowly across these surfaces, revealing subtle shifts that required patience and close attention.
Drawing became my primary way of processing this experience. Working directly in the caves, and later expanding these studies in charcoal and paint, I focused on how embodied gestures, repeated arcs of the arm, traces of tools, softened edges, form a visual language that feels instinctively human. This body of work became Aesthetic Primitive, a series rooted in observation, material sensitivity, and the quiet intelligence of ancient built space.
Some of the resulting studies and finished works are currently on view at Ambidexter Gallery in Galata, Istanbul, through January 24. If you are in the area, I hope you will visit. You can view all of the works from my collection:
Aesthetic Primitive Collection at Ambidexter Gallery
As part of this announcement, I am also sharing the private view price list with you here. A portion of each sale supports the residency program. For purchase inquiries, please contact curator Ulaş Parkan directly at info@ambidexter.xyz