Pera Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary with the exhibitions Çok İş Var Yapacak, featuring the works of Samih Rifat, and Dancing with Moonlight by Marcel Dzama, who interprets political and social criticism with his humorous style.
On the 20th anniversary of Pera Museum’s foundation, the exhibition Çok İş Var Yapacak Yapacak (A Lot of Work to Do) explores the creative process, which can be defined as “an act of art and thought”, of Samih Rifat, the “hezârfen” of the world of art and thought who passed away at an early age, through his various productions. Dancing with Moonlight is the first solo exhibition in Turkey by Marcel Dzama, who works in various media such as drawing, painting, sculpture and video, and interprets political and social criticism with his unique humorous style.
Samih Rifat “There is Much Work to Do”
Samih Rifat has left a deep mark on the cultural world with his photographs, poems, documentaries, and translations. Samih Rifat’s exhibition titled There’s A Lot of Work to Do, photographs, films, drawings, poems, notebooks, books and music… focuses on Rifat’s universe of art and thought by revealing his intellectual journey, interdisciplinary transitions and poetic sensibility.
The exhibition is also a tribute to Samih Rifat, the versatile intellectual who was the founding artistic advisor of the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation in its early years and who, among many other projects at Pera Museum, organized exhibitions of world-renowned photographers such as Henri-Cartier Bresson and Josef Koudelka.
This special exhibition presents a selection of Samih Rifat’s photographs and drawings, as well as his entire creative process, as a competent cultural figure with a wide range of interests, nourished by the artistic and intellectual heritage of both the West and Anatolia.
Rifat’s interest in the ancient world, his deep connection with languages, and his meticulous understanding of translation stand out as one of the important sections of the exhibition curated by Serhan Ada, photo editing by Esra Özdoğan and Ahmet Elhan, and exhibition and catalog design by Bülent Erkmen; while his documentaries and his relationship with poetry and music also meet the audience.
Marcel Dzama Dancing with Moonlight
New York-based, Canadian-born artist Marcel Dzama’s first solo exhibition in Turkey, Dancing with Moonlight, opens the door to the artist’s unique narrative world with a little help from his friend Raymond Pettibon. At first glance, Dzama’s drawings present a multi-layered and humorous narrative that brings together familiar elements from popular culture and contemporary politics.
Curated by Alistair Hicks, the exhibition explores three main themes that are prominent in Dzama’s artistic practice:
- Criticism of governments
- Environmental destruction
- The disasters caused by wars.
Dzama tackles these issues, sometimes with dark humor and sometimes with the chess metaphor inspired by Marcel Duchamp, whom Dzama sees as a source of inspiration and a partner.
The artist’s practice is not limited to drawing and painting; it encompasses many disciplines such as diorama, puppetry, costume, stage design, film, song, fanzine, and sculpture. This approach to production, which brings together different forms of expression, deepens Dzama’s world and eliminates the boundaries in his relationship with his art.
Courtesy of the artist and Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf
His collaborations with Spike Jonze, Maurice Sendak, Maurice Sendak, Beck, Kim Gordon, Raymond Pettibon, Bob Dylan and New York City Ballet in various projects reveal the artist’s versatile approach and wide range of interests. The exhibition, which also includes collaborations with fellow New York artist Raymond Pettibon, offers an opportunity to discover the creative vision Dzama brings to the art world and his unique style that draws the viewer in.
Details to Visit the Exhibition
– Date: March 20 – August 17
– Venue: Pera Museum / Tepebaşı – Beyoğlu
– Entrance Information: Pera Museum
