A SONG TO THE WORLD | GÜNEŞ TERKOL
Versatile artist, Güneş Terkol, places the representation of the female figure at the center of her work. It is not the bodies or faces that stand out, but rather the narratives drawn from the artist’s personal experiences, which serve as both the backdrop and catalyst for situations, contexts, and stories, formalized in complex textile pieces.
Her style is simple, almost childlike in its flattening of objects and figures, rendered on embroidered or simply sewn fabric, using recycled and repurposed materials.
The unending call for women’s rights regarding social roles and individual freedoms often originates in the context of contemporary Turkey, where Terkol lives and studied.
A song to the world presents women proudly unveiled, depicted in one of Venice’s most classic and stereotyped viewpoints.
Standing boldly on gondolas—without the male gondoliers—they rise between the Salute and the Grand Canal, silently conveying stories of peace, tributes to the city and its cultural symbols, tales of sisterhood and community.
Actively embracing the concept of collectivity, her large-scale artworks are carried in marches like banners, by both men and women, in a collective action that merges the power of imagery and the energy of movement with musical performance.
This action unfolds in diverse forms and contexts, amplifying and potentially engaging broader audiences, thus giving a strong, direct, but gentle voice to those who struggle to express themselves.
The use of reclaimed materials, the rough, almost abstract shapes, and the simple designs woven into a complex, layered texture all align with an aim to make the work accessible and understandable to as wide an audience as possible, encouraging participation and engagement with the artwork.
A song to the world by Güneş Terkol is currently exhibited at the Venice Biennale, on the occasion of the 60th International Art Exhibition titled “Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere.”
Güneş Terkol
A song to the world – 2, 2024
Embroidery on fabric, 198 × 321 cm
60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, “Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere”
Photo by Marco Zorzanello, Courtesy La Biennale di Venezia
13/11/24