Nil, let us get to know you first.
I was born in 1988 in İstanbul. After completing my education in the University of Birmingham in UK on Art History and Philosophy, I went to Istituto Marangoni in Milan in 2009 to complete my master's degree. Following my return, I joined Vogue Turkey team within the structure of Doğuş Publications Group, and I became a fashion coordinator in this magazine in 2013. I opened Gaia Gallery on the fifth floor of Elhamra Han on October 2014.
How did the idea for Gaia Gallery emerge? Could you please tell us a bit about the establishment period?
I always had a plan to open a gallery. When I just thought that it could be opened within a year or two, it turned into a reality when I came across with Elhambra. When we see this space that has importance both architecturally and historically as well as having art in its DNS, we rolled up our sleeves for Gaia. We started to work on April. We are now trying to draw a new perspective to ourselves by listening to artist experiences and analysing lived experiences in the sector.
What is the artistic and management policy of Gaia Gallery?
Gaia is presenting an art direction that is based on contradictions. The gallery has an art policy, which contains, criticises and examines politics, religion, gender identities, sex, existence and some other contradictions within itself. The management policy of Gaia is based entirely on transparency. We are yet a young gallery, which has gone for a journey to say new things in an intense agenda of our country and an irregular art environment. We intend to further our energy with a transparent and honest policy.
What are the criteria of Gaia Gallery on artist selections or during the period of the exhibition? On what kind of exhibitions does the gallery prefer to hold?
As I have just mentioned that we want to exhibit works that contain problem and contradiction within itself. We are planning to make exhibitions that we wish our audience feel nourished and make them think by the end of our exhibitions. In fact, Gaia is much more comprehensive then an art space, where the spectators come, see the exhibition and then leave. We wanted to form an interactive art platform, in which artists from various disciplines can be involved together with art lovers and collectors.
Would you like to talk about Arda Yalkın exhibition, which happens to be your first one? How was received? How did you experience this process as a host?
Arda was an artist, whom I have been observing for a while. We are also very happy to do our opening exhibition with him. We had some good feedback from Arda's exhibition called Deep Fried Dreams. Frankly, I think the works of artist had synergy with the opening of the gallery since it coincides with the platform that we want to accentuate.
Gaia Gallery is situated in a very hectic point of the city. Would you like to tell us about the relationship in between Beyoğlu and your gallery?
The unique character of İstanbul, Beyoğlu and surely Elhambra Han and their central location motivates us a lot. The major position of art developments and galleries in between Galatasaray-Tünel can't be denied. When we started, we aimed to one of them. Our advantage is that we created a stronger synergy together with all artistic developments, institutions and galleries.
What kind of experience is it for you to run a gallery in a hectic point as such?
Besides art environment, don't you think it is hard enough to keep pace with the rhythm of Istanbul? Breathing the same air by getting nourished from Beyoğlu, from which almost all branches of Turkish art is inspired so intensively, and observing heterogeneous human profile passing in front of our door are forcing us to research more, find better and meet newer.
Gaia Gallery is rather a new organization in the field of art. What are its future projects? What are the things they promise to the field of art and especially art audience?
We just got out of Contemporary Istanbul marathon. Arda Yalkın's exhibition ends on 26 December 2014. We are planning to welcome the first days of the year with art as well. We are going to be opening the exhibition of Slovenian artist Mito Gegič’s Encryption exhibition on 15 January 2015.
We want Gaia to be an art platform that is different than a percepted classic, rooted gallery structure. Therefore, we enriched the annual programme of the gallery with special projects and interactive events. We will also be presenting special events including spectators into art that you can see the examples in foreign galleries.
