İş Sanat’s Kibele Art Gallery is hosting Professor Rahmi Aksungur’s Retrospective exhibition, which will remain open to the public until July 14. One of the leading figures in Turkish sculpture, Aksungur presents a rich overview of his artistic journey. The exhibition, titled Rahmi Aksungur Retrospective, features over 70 sculptures produced during various periods of his career, as well as selections from sketchbooks and sculpture drawings. These works have been loaned from major institutions in Turkey and prominent private collectors.
Renowned for pushing the boundaries of traditional sculpture and embracing an innovative approach, Aksungur is particularly known for his use of materials such as bronze, wood, and stone. He employs the grid form not only as a structural tool but also as a means of artistic expression. Drawing inspiration from everyday objects, living beings, and mythological elements, the artist explores the relationship between space, environment, and scale. Aksungur has developed a distinctive sculptural language characteristic of modern sculpture, positioning his works as a bridge between the past and the future.
Running parallel to the Rahmi Aksungur Retrospective is a comprehensive exhibition catalogue, written by Assoc. Prof. Fırat Arapoğlu and published by Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları. This catalogue offers audiences an in-depth view of the artist’s creative world.
Exhibition Details
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Dates: April 14 – July 14
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Venue: Kibele Art Gallery, İş Sanat
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Admission: Free of charge
About Rahmi Aksungur
Rahmi Aksungur was born in Izmir in 1955. He graduated with High Honours from the Sculpture Department of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1979. In 1982, he began working as a research assistant at the same university. He earned his proficiency in art in 1983, became an associate professor in 1994, and was awarded the title of professor in 2000. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ), and from 2006 to 2010, he held the position of Rector of the same university.
Aksungur held his first solo exhibition in 1988, and throughout his career, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions both in Turkey and abroad. His sculptures have been acquired by both private and institutional collections, including the Türkiye İş Bankası Painting and Sculpture Museum, Istanbul Modern, and Odunpazarı Modern Museum. The artist has created many public sculptures that have left a lasting mark on collective memory and has received multiple awards. He continues to work at his studio in Istanbul.
One of Aksungur’s recent monumental works, titled “Özlem” (Longing) (2023), was specially produced for the opening of the Türkiye İş Bankası Painting and Sculpture Museum. The sculpture centers on the dramatic story of the swordfish, a species once commonly seen in the Bosphorus, and now rarely sighted. The piece narrates the impact of human intervention on the ecosystem through a powerful artistic language.
