Etem Şahin
Etem Şahin studied Cinema at Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle and earned his master's degree in Art and New Media from Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne University. From 2013 to 2015, he worked as a lecturer in the Department of Cinema and Digital Media at Izmir University of Economics. In collaboration with Cenkhan Aksoy, Şahin co-founded Sütüdyo devam, an open art space and artist initiative.
Since 2011, Şahin has been performing under the stage name Medyartiz alongside Gizem Karakaş. He has also contributed to the art community by working as a coordinator and curator for various art events and non-profit art spaces. As a member of the Büyük Siyah Kapı artist initiative, Şahin continues to be actively involved in the art world. From 2017 onward, Şahin has primarily focused on presenting his paintings, showcasing his talent and dedication to the visual arts. His diverse background in cinema, new media, performance, and curatorial work has undoubtedly influenced and enriched his artistic practice, resulting in a unique and multifaceted approach to his creative endeavors.
La Sparizione
La Sparizione" series is a haunting exploration of the human psyche, delving into the depths of mental anguish and the struggle for identity. At first glance, the delicate lines that define Şahin's figures may appear light and ethereal, but upon closer inspection, they reveal a profound sense of burden and turmoil. The title of the series, "La Sparizione," which translates to "disappearance" in Italian, serves as a poignant allegory for the experience of psychosis. Şahin's figures are trapped within the labyrinthine confines of their own minds, their faces etched with expressions of helplessness and despair. The intricate web of lines that composes each figure mirrors the complexity of their inner world, a visual testament to the weight of their psychological struggle. Drawing inspiration from the literary classic "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, Şahin introduces a sense of duality and internal conflict within his figures. This theme of duality is further explored in his "Elsa and her dragonesque mind" series, where two figures are locked in a tense and symbiotic relationship. One figure appears innocent and proud, while the other is aggressive and unsettling, yet they are inextricably linked, unable to exist independently. In "La Sparizione," the solitary figures are engulfed by an overwhelming sense of isolation and despair, their energy slowly drained as they navigate a world that threatens to consume them. At times, these figures seem to fade into the background, becoming almost transparent, as if they are being pulled into a void reminiscent of Alice's tumble down the rabbit hole.
