Speaker

İlkem Karakaş Esim was born in 1996 in Aydın. In 2014, she graduated from Yüksel Yalova Fine Arts High School. In 2015, she entered Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Traditional Turkish Arts and completed her undergraduate education in 2019 with the first place in the department and project. Afterwards, she continued her master's degree at Marmara University Institute of Fine Arts. In the artist's production, the aesthetic values of traditional Turkish arts are reinterpreted from a contemporary perspective. Especially illumination, miniature and geometric arrangements stand out as the basic visual and philosophical elements in the artist's works. Elegant motifs and flowers, combined with mythological figures and "Div" characters, make visible the contradictions and existential questionings in the inner world of man. Geometric forms represent order and symmetry, while illumination patterns reflect detailed craftsmanship and elegance. Human and div figures symbolise the inner conflicts and contradictions of existence. This synthesis invites the viewer not only to a visual experience, but also to an intellectual process that leads the viewer to discover the subtext of the work. The cyclicality of nature, organic colours derived from vegetable dyes and existential questioning play an important role in the artist's works. Each work aims to establish a unique bond between the artist and the viewer by encouraging the viewer to make an effort to discover the details. This interaction deepens the meaning of the work and allows the viewer to gain new layers from a personal perspective. The artist, who produces works in the field of NFT as well as physical exhibitions, has developed a unique art language at the intersection of traditional and digital. This approach bridges mythology, symbolism and contemporary experiences in search of a universal meaning.