More Than What’s Painted: Sezer Arıcı

They say childhood wears a cloak that brushes off dreams. The dream which led Sezer Arıcı to draw at a very young age made him feel that what he does has a meaning. “I’d walk around with a bunch of drawings my older sister made for me. I started drawing my own by looking at them when we were apart so that I could show them to her.” We don’t know if he knew those drawings were going to be displayed in dozens of exhibitions but we cannot wait to introduce you to Sezer Arıcı’s creative and unique works.

Take us to the beginning. What directed you to painting?

My older sister is ver y talented. When I was 4-5, I’d walk around with a bunch of drawings my older sister made for me. Those were my most valuable possessions. She was in a board school back then and would bring me new drawings when she visited during the holidays. I’d wait for them with great excitement. Then I started drawing my own by looking at them when we were apart so that I could show them to her.

”Benjamin”

Can you tell us about your creative process? How do you decide on a project’s content or time frame?

It takes a long time for me to think and begin a new painting. There are so many images in my mind that it’s hard to separate them to find a new idea different from the current works of other artists and to add a piece of myself. When I do this, and reveal my spiritual experiences and emotions, the content is born. Photography is also a very important step for me. Every painting I make is based on thephotos taken by me or with Emre Ünal.

In addition to your abstract principles, you also had a professional training in various forms of painting. How did you balance your life and art as you became more professional?

Balance varies in art or I’m not even entirely sure if there is one. The schools I studied at enabled me to learn and work in terms of technique but my development after school helped me to know and understand what art truly is.

“Aşk / Love II”

We know your works reflect your own experiences through the portraits of other people. Do you think art has a function to present “ today”?

In a way, yes. On the other hand, art encompasses all time and while doing art, you cannot escape those teachings and information. For me, the function of art can be to present the past, the present and the future in current time.

You have a wide field of interests including photography, painting and post-production. How do these change your work and personality as you renew yourself?

Painting requires time and patience during the creative process. It has to be the focus. Photography and post-production provide faster results. While they feed each other in many instances, sometimes it can be hard to make a transition and to differentiate – both physically and spiritually. There were times it gave birth to a serious
conflict in my mind. I can differentiate them a bit more clearly for the past year. Painting is especially a priority for me.

You participate two group exhibitions simultaneously. Can you tell us about them?

One of my works will be displayed at the exhibition Patterns at Açık Alan until May 20 which brings together works of my school friends and artists who taught me. You can see works of pattern that reflect the approaches of 22 artists. The other exhibition is at Ekavart Gallery until May 31. The 4th Ekav Artist New Generation exhibition displays works by 26 young artists who received a scholarship from EKAV (Foundation of Education, Culture and Research). Here you can also see videos, paintings, sculptures and photographs by artists from various disciplines. I participate the exhibition with an oil painting inspired by the poem “Yansı” by Özdemir Asaf.

“My Good Man”

“Holy II”

“Don’t know where to go”