b. 1978, Bulgaria. Lives and works in Istanbul, TR and Plovdiv, BG
Sevket Sönmez is a contemporary artist currently living and working in Istanbul, TR and Plovdiv, BG. Graduate of Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, Faculty of Painting, Istanbul (BFA, MFA, PhD), he is regularly exhibiting at various group shows, and has held over twenty solo exhibitions in Turkey, Portugal, Cuba and Bulgaria.
In the midst of today's prevalent image culture, Sönmez consistently confronts the imposition of images shaped by certain "parallel" structures. These structures, perceiving themselves as superior to individual identities, tend to encapsulate themselves, a phenomenon aptly described as a process of 'fetishization.' The artist's body of work can be characterized as a resolute resistance against this process.
Drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as mass media, history, personal archives, art, and daily life experiences, Sönmez endeavors to construct a personal perspective that embraces the contradictions between individual and collective interpretations of time and history. Throughout the creative process, events and characteristics of the 20th century hold particular significance. Presently, he seeks to amalgamate a spectrum of ideas by employing an experimental approach, weaving together different techniques and methods of presentation, recently turning to paravents and hung surfaces. This approach is akin to dismantling the uniformity inherent in the contemporary understanding of the pattern between individual and collective algorithms.
Education
2023 - PhD, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University
2004 - MFA, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University
2001 - BFA, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Faculty of Painting
Solo Exhibitions
2023 – “Portraits”, Eskişehir Üniversity, Eskişehir, TR
2018 – “Lazarus Sign”, Merkur Gallery, İstanbul, TR
2018 – “Beneath the Surface” Fall Exhibitions, Plovdiv, BG
2017 – “Narcissus”, Merkur Gallery, İstanbul, TR
2015 - Istanbul Grade, MERKUR, Istanbul
2013 - La-vi-da Lavida Fake, MERKUR, Istanbul
2012 - "Penso Ma Existo", Espaço Bento Martins, Institution Junta de Freguesia de Carnide, Lisbon, Portugal
2012 - "Un Ornamento Mental", Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño- Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba
2011 - "Drink Van Houten Cacao", Merkur, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 - "Sharkhan", ALANistanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 - "Pantograph", x-ist, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 - "Hot Injection", x-ist, Istanbul, Turkey
2005 - "Collusion", x-ist, Istanbul, Turkey
2004 - "Taiga", x-ist, Istanbul, Turkey
2003 - Bir Culture and Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey
2002 - Garanti Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 – 1. Mediterranean Biennial for Contemporary Art, Tarsus, TR
2023 - "Beginning From the Middle", Artİstanbul Feshane, Istanbul, TR
2023 – “The Light of Day”, The Wall Art Gallery, İstanbul, TR
2022 – Biennial of Contemporary Art, Plovdiv, BG
2021 – “Paper tiger”, Gru Art Gallery, Urla, TR
2020 – “ArtWeeks”, Merkur Gallery, İstanbul, TR
2019 – “Hot Dog”, Açık Alan, İstanbul, TR
2018 – “ArtWeeks”, Merkur Gallery, İstanbul, TR
2018 – “Cihannuma”, İstanbul Dogz, İstanbul, TR
2018 – “Fire at Will”, Tophane-i Amire, İstanbul, TR
2018 – “55T”, Artist Art Fair, İstanbul, TR
2017 – “7 Artists from Istanbul”, Burgas Art Gallery, Burgas, BG
2015 - Contemporary Istanbul, Merkur Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2014 - Contemporary Istanbul, Merkur Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2013 – Swab Art Fair, Barcelona, ES
2013 - Contemporary Istanbul, Merkur Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2013 - “Inside” Group Exhibition, Merkur Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2013 - Merkur Group Exhibiton, Palmarina, Bodrum, Turkey
2012 - “Untitled” Group Exhibition, Merkur Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2012 - Contemporary Istanbul, Merkur Gallery, TR
2012 - Art Beat Fair, Merkur Gallery, TR
2012 - Vienna Art Fair, Merkur Gallery, TR
2011 - Contemporary Istanbul, Merkur Gallery, TR
2011 - Where Fire Has Struck, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Exhibition of the 20. Year, Tütün Deposu, Istanbul, TR
2008 - Association Saint Henri, Toulouse, FR
2005 - Young Expansions, Pera Museum, Istanbul, TR
2003 - Metiss'Art, University of Nanterre, Paris, FR
2001 - Ne Olacak Bu Memleketin Hali, Çekirdek Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2001 - Taste, Is Sanat, Parmakkapi Art Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2000 - Apartment Project, Istanbul, TR
2000 - 61. State Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Istanbul, TR
2000 - Meeting Point, Bandırma, TR
1999 - Meeting Point, Çorum, TR
1999 - Turkish Heart Foundation, Painting and Sculpture Museum, İstanbul, TR
1998 - Dreams and Generations, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, TR
1998 - Dissonance, Galeri Disonans, Plovdiv, BG
Awards
2001 - First Place, Ipek Ahmet Merey Painting Competition, Istanbul, TR
2001 - Third Place, Sabancı Foundation Graduation Awards, Istanbul, TR
1995 - Second Place, "Peace" poster competition under the patronage of
the General Consulate of Germany in Turkey
1995 - Special Prize, Photography Competition, Municipality of Balikesir, TR
1994 - First Place, Painting Competition, National Council of Turkish
Women, Atakoy Galleria, Istanbul, TR
Contact: sevketsonmez@gmail.com
Website: www.sevket-sonmez.com
İnstagram: @sevketsonmezworks
Site: Coşkun Sami