Mirror Form Study Report

PREFACE

In this study, I will try to explain the problem, aim and importance of the interdisciplinary art process that I have fictionalise together with its sources. This study has an important place to confront my own thoughts and to clarify the artistic activity I have instinctively realized. In this research, I wish that the theory of art process that I have presented will lead to future generations with its positive and negative aspects. I am grateful to my family, Aslıhan Mumcu, Selin Yağmur Sönmez and Asst. Prof. H. Avni Öztopçu who supported me in this art process and in this research.

12 January 2018
Aras Yazıcı

INTRODUCTION

The source of the art process mentioned in this study is the fear of human’s space and extinction. This fear emerged with the feeling of deep loneliness and uneasiness that the human sensation. The concept of entity is the main problem of this art process. The questions of “Why are we here?” and “What are we doing on this planet?” with begun to be questioned the human’s entity in the universe. Along with this questioning, the search for absolute reality and salvation has entered into, and the emotion of nothingness caused deep trauma. As a result of the profound trauma experienced in this period, death becomes an obsession and an absolute reality created in the mind. Thus, loneliness and death are accepted as the two basic realities of existence. In this process, art has been used as a means of confrontation to assimilate and accept reality.

“I must accept loneliness and death. These are the two most basic realities of existence. I’m just linger and I’m pass of here. That’s all. We’re after your truth. We must accept and assimilate the truth.” (Yazıcı, 2017: 9)

The process of confrontation with absolute reality begins with imaging the primitive fear that is felt in the universe. In order to confront this imagery, the “ram head excoriate process” is edited. This process includes take the ram head from the slaughterhouse to obtain skull from the ram head and cleaning them with various chemical processes. The reason is that the skull will be used in objectification of image. This action is an expression of primitive and absolute desire of art and as a result of this, art is perceived as a process.

“I have seen those organisms in the above ground while taking the skull from the ground. They were just like us. Then, I have touched the skull and the smiling teeth and created this image.” (Yazıcı, 2016: 22)

IMAGE CREATION

The concept of image is the basis of interdisciplinary works in this art process. The image is the counterpart of the ideas of the human mind in the world of objects. In these works, the image was used as a tool to abstraction. Imagination is thought to be the first step of abstraction. The image formed in the mind has been objectified to be transferred to the painting surface and the “0 Numbered Image” work has emerged. “0 Numbered Image” is a three-dimensional work consisting of ram head, mirror and tree branches put together and varnished. It can be seen that the tree branches used in this study are put together in the form of a structure that can keep the ram head and the mirror standing. Ram head is the skull obtained as a result of the ” ram head excoriate process “. It symbolizes the death that is considered to be absolute reality and the ” ram head excoriate process “. The mirror is specially selected for its characteristic structure among hundreds of pieces of a broken mirror. It is the time dimension when entity exists and it’s absolute. It shows the moment and the unity of things that he carries in the moment. It has an important place in the perception of the place of time and space of entity. As a result of this work, the image created in the mind has been objectified through the symbols and has become a original art object.

“As creators, we will create the moment. Until the end of our short life. But a mirror will always show you the moment. Time, change, transformation will show everything that exists and is happening. The only thing that does not change is the mirror. That is the mirror, the moment.” (Yazıcı, 2016: 22)

ENTITY

The created art object has been transferred to the painting surface with the “1 Numbered Entity” work and entity works have been revealed. Entity works are paintings on surfaces such as canvas, wood, glass, wall, paper, etc. to use “0 Numbered Image” as an abstraction and picture element. In these works, object and space relations are investigated in the field of illusion on the surface. A composition system consistent with the “Mirror Form”, “ram head”, “tree branches” and “space in perspective” view in the “0 Numbered Image” work used as this related object was used. The reason for this is the desire to create original boundaries and rules in paintings. Thus, in all the paintings, the relation of entity to the universe is described and the absolute reality is the subject.

In the work of “1 Numbered Entity” with an intuitive and inner realistic attitude, it is seen that the work of “0 Numbered Image” is transferred to the surface in a primitive manner. Since the work of “5 Numbered Entity”, the pattern of the Mirror Form in the work “0 Numbered Image” has been taken and the form of the mirror with this pattern has been started to be transferred to the surface at the same position and angle. This method is one of the original boundaries and rules created in the paintings.

Along with this method, it emerged with the idea of absolutizing the Mirror Form and creating a new form. The Mirror Form was used in all subsequent work after entity works, and this format has become a symbol. One consequence of this is the “1 Numbered Revision” work. In this work, it is seen that a still life painting that has been found is inverted and “Mirror Form”, “space view” and “red surface” are added. The objects and paintings in the surroundings are placed in Mirror Form with this work and started to be revised. An example of this is the “10 Numbered Revision” work.

The form of the mirror has evolved over time. The reason for this is the desire to use the Mirror Form with an one to one measure. This desire is an absoluteization of an object that will disappear, and thus to be transferred on to future generations as an art idea. “19 Numbered Entity” can be shown as a result of this source. In this work, it is seen that the of “0 Numbered Image” work which is used as painting element is measured by projection method and these measurements are transferred to the canvas surface.

The Mirror Form is a symbol of this art process. Through this symbol, it is seen that push to the limits of the area of illusion on the painting surface and the paintings are developed and connected with time and space. This begins with the space where the painting appearance of the Mirror Form in the work of “5 Numbered Entity”. In the work of the “8 Numbered Entity” the Mirror Form was cut from the canvas surface, resulting in paintings that relate to the time and space.

The desire to get out of the painting surface in the entity works is due to the limited area of illusion in the painting. It is thought that it can not go beyond the description of the image formed in the illusion area of the painting. The idea is to create a new area of illusion in order to remove the boundaries on the surface. The work of “1 Numbered Box” is the result of this idea and caused the box works to emerge.

“I lost my faith in the painting after I saw so many results in the my surroundings and started to make closed boxes as a painting. I lost my faith in painting and realized that I actually understood the painting better. I have begun to think that those who do on the surface are actually illusions and painters are illusionists.”  (Yazıcı, 2017: 15)

SPACE FORMED IN CLOSED BOX

The box works are three-dimensional works whose contents are unknown and are closed with nails and screws. It was created as a result of closing the painting in a wooden box with nails and screws. These works are locked sarcophagi. These sarcophagi are an expression of the loneliness and eternal nothingness of human in the universe. The painting was made into these sarcophagi and was closed with a large number of screws to prevent further opening. In this way, a curiosity and a desire to see the painting were created in the viewer. A new area of illusion has been created by using the space created in a closed box instead of the painting surface. For this reason, interventions and some symbols are seen outside of the painting in these works. These symbols are Mirror Form, symbols of international cargo marking symbols and the interdisciplinary art process. It is clearly seen that the form of the mirror is aimed at accepting this form as a universal form by placing it between these symbols. This attitude is a result of the idea of absoluteizing the Mirror Form and creating a new form.

As a result of the area of illusion being closed to the viewer, it begins to arise that art is not for the viewer. Box works was transformed into a editing and the “Cosmos” work was prepared so that the viewer could see the illusion area formed with in the box works. The “2 Numbered Box” work was done in the “Cosmos” work and used as a painting element. This attitude seems to cause the “10 Numbered Box” to be used as a painting element in the “20 Numbered Entity” work.

“I started to work on a space that I prepared for a certain time period to think about editings after closed boxes. I created a new painting using the paintings of this space as elements. Now for me, the painting came out of the canvas and became a space in a certain time interval.” (Yazıcı, 2017: 15)

EXPERIENCED PAINTING

“Cosmos” is an interdisciplinary editing work carried out between 29.08.2016 – 09.09.2016 at “40°59’24.4″N, 29°03’07.7″E” coordinates. It emerged as an exhibition proposal designed to be sent to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The aim here is to use the art objects of the interdisciplinary art process as a painting element and to create a new painting. The viewer will be able to walk around in the painting and experience the painting. Thus, the exhibition proposal is planned to be transformed into a painting that can be experienced. For this plan to be realized, it seems that a closed space is used as the area of illusion. The editing was carried out in a closed area isolated from light. The reason is that there is no light in the box works. The viewer can see the editing area through a red light. This light was used to create a restricted view. In the center of the editing area, “0 Numbered Image” and “9 Canvases” works are hanging in the air to give a sense of space without gravity. In the four walls of the editing area, the entity works and the “2 Numbered Box” work is placed on the corner. The walls of the editing area are covered by the view of the space used in entity works. This editing is a depiction of the infinite universe. It has been working for 10 days in the editing area and the editing has been recorded by documenting it through photographs, videos and notes.

As a result of this work, it was understood that the “Cosmos” editing could not be repeated and not moved to the gallery hall. The viewer has been the testimony of the creation process of the editing. Thus, the “cosmos” editing has evolved from being an exhibition proposal and has become an experienced process. An enclosed space used as an area of illusion has become certain dates and coordinates. As a result of this editing, the idea that artwork is not an art object that can be watched or exhibited has begun to be formed. As a result of leaving the work of the “2 Numbered Box” in the editing area, all works have been started to be placed in a certain space and time interval and the coordinates of these works have started to be recorded. It was decided to place the “9 Canvases” work, which emerged with the entity works after the box works, in 9 different points of the world after the “Cosmos” editing.

EXPERIENCED PROCESS

“9 Canvases” is an interdisciplinary editing project that plans 9 art viewers to place 9 canvases simultaneously on 9 different points of the Earth. This editing has emerged to use the surface of the Earth as a canvas. Following the “Cosmos” work, it was decided that the “9 Canvases” work would be left to the sea by the viewer or buried in a land. A coordinate is set for each canvas so that a Mirror Form is formed on the world map, and an instruction booklet is prepared. In the prepared 9 instruction book, there is information about where and how to place canvases. These booklets are specially prepared for each viewer. In order for this editing to take place, 9 art viewers must adopt and experience the “9 Canvases” process. According to the editing, 9 canvases will be placed simultaneously by 9 viewers on 9 different points of the Earth. With this work, 9 viewers will prove to be a process in which art is not traceable and can be experienced. In the 9 canvases where 9 viewers will be buried or the sea will drop to the bottom, Mirror Form formed by molding method on red canvases are seen. Thus, the object of art will be destroyed by the viewer and the form of mirror, which is the symbol of this art process, will be created by destroying it in the mind of the viewer.

“I do not intend to do the “9 Canvases” work while I am in the world. I will assess the time I have in the world for the preparations of this work. So that we can reveal what can be sacrificed for a form and the power of art.” (Yazıcı, 2017: 29)

9 viewers adopt the “9 Canvases” editing and their experience is the aim of the interdisciplinary art process. A website was created to create the necessary conditions for the realization of the editing. Through the website, the interdisciplinary art process is made visible to the viewer, and the site has an important place for viewers to adopt this process. Art is a process, and the elements of this process alone do not make sense. For this reason, the first exhibition of this process in Istanbul was given the name “www.entityartproject.com”. The exhibition was organized to exhibit the work “20 Numbered Entity”. The work “20 Numbered Entity” is the first painting in which absolute reality is depicted without the use of “ram head”, “tree branches” and “Mirror Form” and this is an important part of the process of exhibiting the painting. The “9 Canvases” work was exhibited for the first time in this exhibition. There is an internet site in the center of the exhibition via exhibition name. The purpose of the exhibition is to direct the viewer to the internet site who are encountering the elements of the art process in the exhibition area. Thus, the viewer has the opportunity to see the art process and the elements of this process together. As the exhibition was opened near the coordinates to be placed in the “1 Numbered Canvas” work, it was decided to open international exhibitions near the coordinates where the canvases would be placed. By means of international exhibitions to be opened, an open call will be made to 9 art viewers and necessary conditions will be established for the realization of the “9 Canvases” editings.

RESULT

In this process, art has emerged from being an object that can be traced and exhibited, and has become an idea that is formed as a result of experiences in the process. As a result of this research we understand that we have a direct influence on what we know and experience that we have seen. What creates the Mirror Form in the mind of the viewer is the process that is experienced and what is known about it. It is seen that a form that emerges as a result of coincidence and a chosen form makes sense for us as a result of the process experienced. This process is a theory of existence with the form and the idea that it creates.

RESOURCES

YAZICI, Aras. “www.entityartproject.com” Exhibition Catalog, Caddebostan Kültür Merkezi, İstanbul, 10 – 17 Kasım 2017.

YAZICI, Aras. Painting Course Study Report, Marmara University Atatürk Education Faculty Department of Fine Arts Education Painting Teacher Training Program Undergraduate Painting Course Study Report, İstanbul, 2016.