Istanbul's independent art space, Dulcinea, is hosting the exhibition "Hiçbir yere.." (To Nowhere) of charcoal and oil paintings of depicting chaos and nihilism, by an artist of multinational residence, Gulfem Kessler. Kessler is a Turkish artist, who studied painting and graphic design in Holland and is currently living in the United States. A sense of dislocation and conflict between settling in one place and moving to other places can easily be seen in her works of art.

As a modern nomad, Kessler travels from one city to another, one country to another, living in a single place no more than two years. She is inspired by the dynamism of modern urban life, and "prefers any kind of energy - even if it is negative - to a static existence." For Gulfem Kessler, 'frustration and restriction are powerful' in generating creation. No wonder her favorite piece in the exhibition is "Portraits of Anxiety," a set consisting of four oil paintings. Kessler says these four paintings are the only ones she painted spontaneously and on consecutive days. She adds that she does not believe in so much spontaneity in painting and shows another set of two paintings, "Will I ever get free?," which she worked on with more control. It is obvious that Kessler can sense a difference in their tones. But for the ordinary audience, both are intense portrayals of imprisonment.

Kessler's charcoal paintings are especially more pessimistic, in terms of her perceptions of stability in life. The human figures have skull-like heads, and there is no sense of time and place in the paintings. One of the paintings, entitled "Not always happy," displays the words "She was faraway and lonely, maybe not always happy." In another a cry comes from one of the skeletal figures, "I do not cry and you seem not to believe it." A striking charcoal and pastel painting, "When will you come?," manifests a sense of dislocation at its limit and the concept of time is entirely disrupted.

This sense of loneliness and longing is predominant in almost all of Kessler's paintings. Even a seemingly peaceful oil painting of blue skies and a small blue airplane in flight is titled, "To Nowhere." A careful look reveals the name, "Nowhere Airlines" over the aircraft. Kessler, herself, reveals that "all her creations and works of art were produced out of periods of mobility and dislocation," which explains why painting has both "an embarrassing and a healing effect" for her. But even though Kessler does not stay home often, there is a small oil painting, "Home sweet home," refreshingly showing that Kessler can feel at home once in a while.

Dulcinea, rightfully known as the independent art space of Istanbul, is offering art-lovers another chance to enjoy modern and fresh art from an artist without borders.

Kessler's exhibition can be seen until March 25 at Meşelik sok. 20, Beyoğlu
Tel: 0 (212) 245 10 71
or www.dulcinea.org

Emrah Güler,
Turkish Daily News, March 2000