Ayten Turanli: Syncopated Earth
Syncopated Earth marks the highly anticipated London debut of contemporary ceramic artist Ayten Turanli. Rooted in movement and materiality, this inaugural solo exhibition presents works from her ‘Rhythm’ series, where repeating forms, layered textures, and gestural surfaces evoke a sense of cadence and flow. Syncopated Earth will run until February 18th at Pi Artworks London's Fitzrovia space. For detailed information please reach out to london@piartworks.com
Gönül Nuhoglu
Independent Consultant and Art Critic
President of Painting and Sculpture Association, 1996-Present - Istanbul
(https://archives.saltresearch.org/handle/123456789/1084)
Syncopated Earth brings contemporary ceramic artist Ayten Turanlı’s first solo exhibition in London to art enthusiasts at Pi Artworks Gallery. Centered around movement and materiality,
this special showcase brings together selected works from the artist’s Rhythm series, inviting viewers into a world of dynamic forms and rhythmic harmony.
Rooted in both materiality and movement, Turanli’s works in the Rhythm series serve as a starting point for an exhibit that unites works that search for an inner rhythm in clay through repetitive forms, composite compositions, and gestural surfaces.
Each piece is composed of repetitions in an organized manner, with flexible forms and shifts in texture at the surface documenting echoes of motion and duration. Depth through layering and tension in condensed forms generates a rhythmic tension, inviting one into such a kinetic flow.
By engaging in dialogue with ceramic and having a sensitiveness towards character of the material, Turanli transforms rhythm into both a visual and a sensual feeling. In this work, one can witness how the artist deciphers the language of beauty in terms of motion, reproduction, and process through ceramic
Through this approach, Syncopated Earth becomes a meditation on continuity, transformation, and time. Drawing from Turkey’s rich ceramic heritage, Turanlı bridges tradition and contemporary abstraction, bringing a unique sensibility to London. Her work fosters a cross-cultural dialogue, where material, rhythm, and history converge in a fresh and compelling way.
Gönül Nuhoğlu (b. 1961) is an Istanbul-based artist, curator, and institutional leader who has played a significant role in shaping Turkey’s contemporary art landscape. Since 1996, she has served as the President of the Association of Painting and Sculpture Museums, actively contributing to the preservation and promotion of visual arts. She is also a founding member of the Istanbul Art Foundation (1999), where she led as President from 2012 to 2024, fostering international artistic exchanges and curatorial initiatives.
With a career spanning nearly three decades, Nuhoğlu has exhibited widely in Turkey and internationally, including at MoCa Yinchuan Museum in China, Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, and Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM). Her work has been featured in institutions, biennials, and exhibitions across Europe, the United States, and Asia, including Hagia Irene (Istanbul), Yerebatan Cistern (Istanbul), Primo Piano Gallery (Italy), and the Arte Laguna Prize (Venice). She has also participated in major contemporary art fairs and led international workshops, engaging with artistic discourse on a global scale.
Her leadership and curatorial experience within institutions, coupled with her active role in cross-border collaborations, have established her as a key figure in contemporary art. Now in her early sixties and based in Istanbul, she continues to shape the contemporary art scene, bridging historical narratives with new artistic dialogues.
Gonul Nugoglu, 2023, Istanbul
@gonulnuhoglu
www.gonulnuhoglu.com
