Reminiscent of a neighborhood market, Mamut Art Project, which has been organized for the last three years and the first of which was realized in Antrepo No. 3, borrows its name from the most frequently seen shape in the first drawings of the humankind. Mamut, as an extinct but ostentatious creature, seems to make a polite reference to the position of power that is idealized by today's art and artist...

According to the project's director Seren Kohen, this word signifies the first works that they will exhibit for a large audience. The togetherness brought by the project can be seen as a symbol of Turkey's cultural industry's interest and search for relatively independent structures. Institutions based on competition, brands that are addicted to cultural identities, public relations that commit the error of always appealing to the same group of people; there must be a class that feels stuck between these groups—almost a thousand people applied to Mamut Art Project as a consequence of this natural, primary instinct.

This year's jury consisted of Agâh Uğur, Başak Şenova, Eda K.Argun and İnci Eviner ile Eralp Osman Erden and was supported by Akkök Holding, who put their signature under the event without a hesitation. We contacted Raif Ali Dinçkök, who said that Mamut Art Project received support from the holding not only because it is an art project, but also because it supports young people. 

According to this, the first event realized in 2013 received 530 applications, works of 48 artists were exhibited in Antrepo No. 3 and viewed by 4 thousand viewers. Last year, 730 artists applied to Mamut Art Project and 54 artists exhibited in Küçükçiftlik Park, viewed by 6 thousand people. There is no limitation to which works are exhibited. Mamut Art Project reflects many different disciplines including painting, photography, installation, street arts, sculpture, illustration, video art, land art, sound art, kinetic art. In the first two years, 60% of the works exhibited at Mamut Art Project were sold.

In this regard, Seren Kohen, rightfully, says "Today, art cannot reach the masses, stuck between galleries and major collectors. There is a lot of talented artists who are not able to gain visibility outside of galleries. These artists, who are at the beginning of their paths, have a hard time accessing places where they can promote their talents." Kohen continues, "From the perspective of the art audience, it is a common perception that art only appeals to a higher-income level. Mamut Art Project actually aims to get rid of all these limitations, bringing together artists and collectors, art lovers, outside of the traditional environments of galleries, museums, studios, with affordable prices."

Kohen also makes a specific warning: "We would like to highlight once again that our target audience is not artists who already have connections with galleries, who have had a few solo exhibitions. If an artist has worked with the same gallery for a few years, they should not apply to Mamut because there is no signed agreement. This makes us question the reasons behind the artist applying and can also hinder artist who have never made that connection. We try to prevent this as much as possible.

In addition, there are a few details that the jury pays attention to. For example, digital video and photograph effects that can be easily applied through smart devices receive negative points from the jury. Works that can be seen as a successful application without artistic meaning are left outside of assessment.

Research methods is an element that our jury pays attention to. For works that deal with topics, which are frequently seen both in Turkey and in the world, research into art history using local and foreign resources is very important for the uniqueness of the work." 

Compared to the last years, more painting, drawing and collage portfolios seem to have emerged at Mamut Art Project. Actually, the jury members who change every year and who reflect a diversity, can see very clearly young artists' tendencies and the shifting trends through the applications. Kohen announced the good news that there will be different styles and techniques exhibited this year, especially in painting. She also does not hide that they have seen a difference in the number of videos. Photography is a field where the applications never decreased. In addition, digital productions which are rapidly increasing in the art field, seem to be more present in Mamut Art Project. Kohen also peaks of Sound Art as an art movement that will have more presence in the near future. 

There has been many young artists who participated in various art fairs and group exhibitions, who opened solo exhibitions and received prizes after having participated in Mamut Art Project. Kohen speaks of Ali Şentürk, Alpin Arda Bağcık, Buğra Erol, Deniz Aktaş, Didem Erk, Kubilay Mert Ural, Murat Han Er, Volkan Kızıltunç, Ahmet Selçuk Bitikçioğlu, Ahu Akkan, Ali Bilge Akkaya, Alper Aydın, Arzu Eş, Erdal İnci, Evren Erol, Gökşen Dilek Acay and Özgür Demirci, for example.

What should we pay attention to in light of all this data?

The buyers need to take their receivers, in other words their mind, heart and all other senses, as their guide and to be able to say "I bought their first work," for a signature that is rising in the future. We all know that an art collection cannot be formed with advice, reassurance and speculation. The name of that could only be... anyways, it is important to be a follower of young artists and to see where they end up in the future. Thus, it is a significant gesture to make a record of the catalogues or other data. Let's leave all this to the side. What do we do, those who cannot buy the works and who enjoy just viewing and understanding the work?

What's happening in Küçükçiftlik is the ability to witness these hopes and to be able to talk to those who say "Happy is the one who is in Mamut." For those who missed the opportunity, the event is already producing a memory. For this, it is enough to look at past catalogues at www.mamutartproject.com, to reach the future. I also can't refrain from congratulating sincerely those who organized the event in their choices for the jury members, who came from a variety of backgrounds and whose rankings were variant. In this realm, I prefer to leave the last word to the important art mind and academic Emre Zeytinoğlu who was in last year's jury:

​"While the goal of the Mamut Art Project is perceived to give opportunities of "exhibition" to young artists, actually what they are doing is show as is this big "artist army" with its changing character, without any classifications. As we have said before, to put forth the word "art" with all its inconsistencies, contradictions and differences, as the reality of today. But there is also this: Such an exhibition space becomes a space of movement for artists who are not able to find their place in art institutions who try to classify the art world, or in other words, those who do not fit any classification."