This Is Not Me

Overview

Alienation symbolizes the separation of a person from their essence, labor, natural and social environment, subjecting them to the domination of these forces. In Sedat Girgin’s “This is Not Me” exhibition, this theme emerges through a powerful use of symbolism and a keen sense of deformation. Drawing and sketching form the foundations of the artist’s expressive language, allowing him to create works that are entirely imaginative, independent of external references. Girgin’s forms break away from the academic rules of anatomy and perspective, and the deformations in his figures and spaces abstract them from the passage of time and the references of real life. The unique distortions in his style not only serve as a means of expressing the artist’s emotions in the moment but also invite viewers to engage with the works by projecting their own feelings onto them, expanding the interaction between the viewer and the art.

The symbolism in Girgin’s works opens doors to universal meanings, while at other times it refers to deeply personal interpretations. Within this context, the costumed figures in his art often appear as representations of humanity’s effort to present itself differently. By adorning the figures with white collars around their necks, Girgin references the tradition of portraiture in art history and addresses the contrast between the individual’s desire to feel special and privileged and the reality they live in with a sharp wit. The irony created through symbols continues with elements such as wheels, symbols of movement, rendered useless and static; birds with wings that cannot fly; eggs that are protected yet fragile; and flowers blossoming from the ugliness of deformed figures. The meaning in Girgin’s work is not handed to the viewer in a didactic manner but instead invites them on a journey of discovery through the elements within the painting itself.

Sedat Girgin, perhaps as an inevitable result of his own existence, powerfully portrays the deep inner conflicts, identity quests, and social alienation of contemporary humans in “This is Not Me”. Through his distinctive symbolism, masterful drawings, and sense of deformation, “This is Not Me” not only offers an aesthetic experience but also compels the viewer to confront the source of their own alienation.

Online Catalogue

Works