Who are artists Giorgos Kevrekidis and Seckin Tercan ? Share with us a few things about you and your work in general
Giorgos Kevrekidis -Holding a Civil Engineer diploma, on the one hand, plus a post-graduate (MSc) degree in Analysis and Design of Earthquake Resistant Structures, from NTUA and, on the other hand, being a graduate from Fine & Applied Arts School / Painting Department / UOWM & MSFAU, I’ ve always attempted to invent ways to combine Engineering with Visual Arts, into which I have instilled my interests, for the time being. Despite our heavy cultural heritage, passed on from generation to generation, we, contemporary artists, “recruit” sometimes early era settlers’ narratives, so as to criticise new era’s humanism’s “hidden” ideals.
At this crossroads of a variably visualized artistic “ego” some of my personal interests derive from i.e. unseen human activities, individuality, undictated codes of human behaviour, specific city topography and its relation between body and space, abandoned places and body enlivening past, memories. By avoiding ‘misplaced’ comparisons with leading Art Maîtres of the past, I feel more like freely interacting with modern era’s urging challenges (i.e.human rights’ discrimination issues, racism, genre, mobility issues, gentrification, identification, e.t.c.) which will facilitate the distinction of “high morale” in modern times. It’s the same discipline “co-travelling” with the evolution of Arts and Sciences, through the centuries. May I, as a contemporary artist myself, instill this “high morale” into future generations…
Seckin Tercan -I was born in Cyprus in 1978. Then I moved to Turkey with my family and I spent most of my childhood around the country. Now I live and work in Istanbul.
Most of early work of mine is naked body and somehow manipulated body parts. I was visually discovering the body and it was an illusion – imperceptible form for me. It was a subject which I was trying to discover but at the same time I was hiding it from viewer. So I am pushing viewer to discover with me but on their own way and their own conclusion.
The body has a fictional structure through its experiences for me. This fictionality leads us to the body to destroy the known and accepted perception in art. This fiction can be observed in nature as a raw element, an extension of the experiment. The body forms the experience gained from the self as the extension of the visiblity for me. This concrete visual representation involves an illusion of the spirituality and all these experiences provide a hidden communication with the body we follow.
My staged photography images are usually related with city and human being. ‘Humankind’ – ‘Mankind’ – is related to alienation of their – our own existence. This existence become much more deindividuation. In societies, where individual existence disappeared and it turns a kind of concrete perception to standardize people is rooted, cultural violence psychologically flattens all people. Especially visually flattens their appearance!
What was your reaction when you heard that you where awarded?
As having no previous experience with participating in a well established/ prestigious/reliable artistic event, as biennale is, as well as sharing for the fisrt time “Re-neighbors’” short born artistic challenges openly, I was more than happy to hear that our initiating (Principo) project was among selected works to be awarded. Enthusiasm, curiosity, competitiveness, ambition, satisfaction, were some of the feelings I experienced once randomly seeing “Re-neighbors” title placed in social media, among nine finalists to compete for Biennale big prize.
For a new born artistic duo, based on sharing distinct cultures, as well as for two individual, ambitious artists like ourselves, going for a biennale reward upon first appearance, sounds an encouraging starting motive, indicating some serious work’s recognition. As following a jury’s evaluation, based on artistic criteria, a biennale reward may pave the way for artists better establishing art “bonds”, further pursuing artistic goals.
Tell us a few words about your awarded work.
“Re-neighbors” initial project (Principo) focused on activating body and space, standing still, same time expanding participants expressive means (via photography, site sensitive photo installations, performance art), according to variable stimuli, they received from both space and its functional connotations. Pictorial compositions with body and space, borrow 17th ce. Painting’s elements, while depicting privacy, individualism, unseen human activities. Visualizing individuality has become contemporary art’s general statement. As a means of better approaching/forming/interpreting certain social behaviors. As an anthropocentric study on human tendency to expand dwelling’s boundaries beyond a home-scale limited space.
Particular scenery of an old rum school in Principo, which referred to ex building functions and human activities, caused the body to enliven present time, mingling with space and left overs. The body, freed from stereotyped behaviors and codes, seeked connection with the objects as if a “crawler’s” body going through them, detecting them in its passage.
Finalist Award Larnaca Biennale 2018
What is your impression about this first Biennial in Cyprus?
Giorgos – More than a hundred international artists, from various artistic fields, gathered together last October, in Larnaca, to inaugurate first ever organized Biennale in Cyprus. Which was definitely a big success. Judging from well selected exhibition spaces, high quality participating works, to organizers’ warm hospitality and offered lodging and transport amenities, to invited artists. I am among the privileged artists to have experienced a highly standard accommodation myself. As well as organizers’ kindness and willingness to solve several issues both before and during biennale.
Seckin – Biennale and the city welcomed us warmly, organization committee arranged every detail. I could observe that accurate work with exhibition venues and also our personal needs. All artist could communicate each other in different times and places.
Tell us about your experience during your visit in Larnaca.
Giorgos – I had already visited Cyprus more than twice before. First time, on the occasion of my participation as selected artist, in Kalavasos artist residency, 2017, organized by the Chamber of Fine Arts. Larnaca was still considered an artistically “unrevealed” destination for me. Which succeeded to capture my more intense senses even from the first moment of my visit, due to its sea proximity and distinguished colonial architecture. Enjoying late October’s swimming habit, as well as pleasantly discovering some interesting scenery for next “Re-neighbors’”artistic project, was more than a proven compensation, during my short visit in Larnaca.
Seckin – That was my first visit in Larnaca. City of Larnaca with artistic venues was real discovery for me. Also social life of the city more than I imagined. On the other hand I visited Cyprus many times but I have never been in south coast of the island. That was another unique experience for me. Going around the lands and discovering some parts of the island just encouraged and inspired us to do next shootings of our artistic duo “Re-neighbors
A message you would like to send to artists that will apply in the future for participation in Larnaca Biennale.
Giorgos – It is of significant importance to keep proceeding with the idea of interaction between the national and the universal and between traditional and contemporary values via culture and the arts, as well as with the development of cultural policies. Also stressing the anthropocentric role of art, on the basis of facilitating the sharing of inspiration and creativity among arts and the artists which would lead the peoples of distinct cultural backgrounds towards a better understanding and contribute to world peace by creating a sense of global awareness through the arts.
Seckin – Larnaca Biennale is unique experience for artists to meet new artistic approaches. It is the first biennale in the island and it was professionally organized as we experienced. Art venues well designed with the art work which is harmonically established in places. For the first year organization it was impressive and I felt that soul of the biennale will be proceed in the future too.