A wide selection of works by Ramazan Can, who draws inspiration from nomadism and Shamanism in his productions, is being showcased at Germany’s Gustav-Lübcke and Villa Merkel museums. The exhibition features sculptures, neon works, paintings, and installations created using various techniques.
Ramazan Can’s first-ever solo museum exhibition worldwide, Home, opened on February 21 at the Gustav-Lübcke Museum in Hamm, Germany. Following this, his second exhibition, Where is My Place in This World?, was unveiled on March 1 at the Villa Merkel Museum in Esslingen. Through these back-to-back solo exhibitions at two prominent German museums, Can delves deeply into themes of nomadism, Shamanism, identity, and belonging—drawing from his personal history as a member of a family with a nomadic and Yörük background.
Located in the northwestern German city of Hamm, the Gustav-Lübcke Museum marks a significant milestone in Ramazan Can’s artistic career. The museum showcases more than 30 of his works created between 2017 and 2024. In December 2024, the museum added Can’s large-scale carpet piece, Puzzle—which questions the fragility of life—and People Who Dance Are Usually Crazy, a work exploring the contrasts between Eastern and Western cultural worlds, to its permanent visual arts collection.
In his first solo exhibition, Home, at the Gustav-Lübcke Museum, Ramazan Can focuses on the concept of “home,” drawing inspiration from his nomadic family roots and Shamanism. In his works, “home” serves as an emotional, cultural, and political space—an ever-evolving concept that embodies memories, losses, and healing.
Building upon this heritage, Can’s multimedia works explore the forced settlement policies imposed on the Yörüks during the late Ottoman Empire and the urbanization policies of the Republic era, which accelerated the erosion of their freedoms and culture. He powerfully symbolizes the threat of cultural extinction by pouring concrete over traditional Yörük carpets—an inheritance from his ancestors.
By juxtaposing these two contrasting materials, the artist opens a dialogue on urbanization, modernization, and industrialization from different perspectives. Through his well-known concrete-textile sculptures, Can questions the rapid disappearance of Yörük traditions, along with their material and spiritual values. Combining materials such as concrete, wood, and iron with contrasting elements like woven carpets and neon lights, he not only creates visual tension but also provides space for a profound confrontation with themes of identity, culture, and tradition.
Details;
- Dates: February 21 – July 27
- Venue: Gustav-Lübcke Museum, Hamm
- Admission Information: Available via the Gustav-Lübcke Museum
Ramazan Can’s Where is My Place in This World?, hosted by the Villa Merkel Museum in Esslingen, Germany, focuses on the artist’s research into his family’s past, which began in 2016. Running concurrently with the Home exhibition at the Gustav-Lübcke Museum, this exhibition’s narrative was sparked by a newspaper article the artist encountered in 2018.
Inspired by the newspaper article he came across, Can began reflecting on his roots and frequently traveled to trace the paths his nomadic and Yörük ancestors once wandered across Anatolia. Throughout these journeys, he recorded sounds, captured photographs, and filmed videos, all of which are presented in the exhibition alongside his other works. By doing so, the artist invites the audience on a journey to the core of themes such as origin, identity, and belonging.
In his signature carpet-based works, Can incorporates old textiles from his own family for the first time. Through this approach, he aims to make the knowledge, lifestyle, and communal spirit of Yörük culture visible once again. Centering his artistic practice around the concept of merging contrasts to create a new whole, he fuses traditional nomadic woven carpets with concrete. This juxtaposition not only highlights the tension between past and present but also underscores the resilience and transformation of cultural heritage over time.
Drawing inspiration from both Western philosophy and Shamanism, Can’s fascination with these themes dates back to his childhood. During an illness in his early years, his family sought the help of a shaman, whose healing left a lasting impression and forged Can’s deep connection with Shamanism.
Interested in the link between monotheistic religions and mythology, Can blends Western art history with Anatolian handicrafts in his work, pursuing both the political and the spiritual. By merging familiar yet unconventional aesthetics, he establishes a dialogue between nomadic and urban life, offering fresh perspectives on tradition and modernity.
Details;
- Dates: March 1 – June 9
- Venue: Villa Merkel Museum, Esslingen
- Admission Information: Available via the Villa Merkel Museum
