Özer Toraman
About
Gender politics is one of the foremost theories and practices contemporary artists engage in. Relying on Queer theory and politics, Özer Toraman’s work ventures outside of the entrenched and the constructed. They can be defined as portraits developed in order to counter imposed and narrow-minded politics of identity and gender. Specifically formulated through the expressive capacities of painting, these works are quite significant in that they make visible physical differences that the system denies and ignores. Devoid of sexist contours, Özer Toraman’s figures
explore a singularity that falls outside of the duality of masculine/feminine. So much that in some of his paintings, figures placed inside a counteracting composition draw notice due to their sameness. Özer Toraman ponders the limits of sexist categorization and reconsiders them in order to create hybrid figures that belong to neither gender. While some portraits are noticeably sharp, others are indistinct and allude to the different genders of our collective consciousness, whispering into our ear.
Istanbul – Berlin
*1989 Van, Turkey
Education
(2012-2018) Marmara University, Institute of Fine Arts, Division of Painting (MA)
(2008-2012) Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting (BA)
Solo Exhibition
2018 Anatomy of Passion, Pg Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 The First Dream, Bozlu Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
2015 You Lived Inside My World So Softly, artnivo, Istanbul, Turkey
Selected Group Exhibitions
2019 The Ballery, Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2018 Passengers of a Kaleidoscopic Journey, Berlin, Germany
2018 Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair, Pg Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 Critical Thinking, Pg Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair, Pg Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2016 Fear, Bozlu Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
2016 Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair, Bozlu Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
2015 Borders Orbits 17, Siemens Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey
2015 The Journey to Me, artnivo.com, Istanbul, Turkey
2015 Celebration and Memories, artnivo.com, Istanbul, Turkey
2014 Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair, artnivo.com, Istanbul, Turkey
2014 Download, artnivo.com, Istanbul, Turkey
2014 Mamut Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 International Workshop, Art Suites Gallery, Bodrum, Turkey
2013 Connecting the Dots, Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts 6th International
Student Triennial, Pera Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 Borders Orbits 14, Siemens Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 Water Work, Siemens Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 Self-Contained Steps, Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul, Turkey
2012 Graduation project exhibition, Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul, Turkey
2012 Division Unfolded, Tarlabaşı, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 Artist 2011, 21. International Istanbul Art Fair, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 Spontaneously, Gallery 24 Art, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 The King is Naked, Asma Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 Nezaket Ekici “Form It Able” Performance, Fulya Congress Center, Istanbul, Turkey
