Gallery I, from September 21 to October 28, 2022
From September 21 to October 28, Sivarulrasa Gallery is delighted to present GIZEM CANDAN: JARDIN DE MANA, the first solo exhibition of artist Gizem Candan! The exhibition can be viewed in person during regular gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Gizem Candan was born in 1996 in Istanbul, Turkey. From 2014 to 2019, she obtained two undergraduate degrees at Yeditepe University in Istanbul, one in graphic design and the other in plastic arts and painting, both with honors. She then moved to Toronto, where her studio is currently based. She is starting the MFA degree in Criticism and Curatorial Practice at OCAD University in Toronto in September 2022.
Gizem Candan’s work is inspired by his environment and the people around him. His works explore psychological states, including states of tension and anxiety in contemporary society and culture. Her subjects range from portraits of people she has met, to puppets she has created, to objects in her environment. She sees the “Jardin de Mana” as a unique garden based on the human connection with nature. “Mana” refers to an inner energy in animate and inanimate objects in many indigenous cultures. In Turkish, ‘mana’ also refers to ‘meaning’, so ‘Mana Garden’ translates to ‘Garden of Meaning’.
In this new body of work, the artist explores the absurdities and tensions of being part of contemporary society, including the loss of meaningful connections that has only been accelerated by the pandemic. “I want to convey the individual’s feeling of being stuck,” she says. “The characters who wear their T-shirts on their heads represent a consumer society that has turned a blind eye.” His human figures are often juxtaposed with bees, which represent nature’s wisdom, or contrasted with puppets, which the artist sees as independent figures that cannot be manipulated by humans.
Gizem Candan’s works have been exhibited in Canada and Turkey and are held in numerous private collections and in the special collections of the Toronto Reference Library. She has received grants from the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.
Opening/Meeting with the artist: Saturday October 1, 2-4 p.m. Meet Gizem Candan at our in-person opening on Saturday, October 1, 2-4 p.m. Please note: for everyone’s convenience and enjoyment, the Gallery voluntarily limits the capacity of our in-person events to 50% of our posted capacity. Please email [email protected] to register for the first hour (2-3pm) or second hour (3-4pm) of the opening. We will get back to you to confirm your registration. We look forward to seeing you!
For available works and more installation photos, visit our exhibition webpage:
SIVARULRASA GALLERY
34 Mill Street, Almonte, Ontario
sivarulrasa.com
613.256.8033