REVIEW: "re-", by Doğa Ertekin

The keyword to Doğa Ertekin’s exhibition, re-, is transposition. Showcasing works that transpose information from one context to another,  re- questions if these transpositions fundamentally change the identity of the original object or not. The viewer encounters this question as soon as they descend from the staircase to CEPA’s project space, where they are then confronted by images of mouths that lead the viewer further into the exhibition space. Upon venturing deeper into the show, one discovers a video flipping through the same mouth imagery that is accompanied by wall text reading, Yaşamaya Dair by Nâzim Hikmet. This text clues the viewer into the transposition that occurred in this piece: the poem, Yaşamaya Dair, is represented visually by still images of mouths making the sounds required to recite it.  

Ertekin’s Yaşamaya Dair by Nâzim Hikmet highlights a strength of the exhibition that I adore: how it forces the user to slow down and contemplate the work to find its meaning. This effect is very deliberate; Doğa Ertekin purposely gives the viewer little information for each piece, the dictionary definitions of the words transpose, and transposition, and lets the viewer figure out the rest. In a world where we are accustomed to having the answers available near instantly, the enigmatic quality of Ertekin’s art forces the viewer to slow down and think about what is being presented, resulting in a grounding experience for the viewer. Urban Plates No. 11, a mesmerizing sculpture made from dirt laid on the floor, forces the user to look down and be mindful of where they step as they navigate around the work to take it all in, heightening this grounding effect. Surrounding this work are clues as to what is being transposed and how in a book that displays more of the artist’s Urban Plates and a three-part audio installation called Sound of an Abstract Sculpture I, II, and III, but I’ll leave you to figure out the what and how when you visit the show for yourself. 

Overall, Doğa Ertekin’s  re- delivers an engaging experience across sculptures, sound, video, and interactive elements that invite contemplation from the viewer.  re- is on view from April 10th through 25th at CEPA project space located at 617 Main Street in Buffalo, New York and was created by Ertekin as part of the University at Buffalo’s MFA in Studio Art program.