Studio Berlin, 2023
Ceren Oykut (1978, Istanbul) graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University’s Painting department in 2002. Her cartoonish drawings, which are often created on small scraps of paper, spreading to paper rolls and from here to the walls, extend the classic techniques in terms of size and space. Focusing on small details, Oykut conveys a condensed image of an ungraspable panorama that explores the absurdity of daily life’s circumstances. Oykut maintains a cyclical art practice in which she transforms her drawings by using them as raw materials, experiencing new narratives and new mediums. Her artistic range expands to drawing performances on stage and regularly implies collaborations with artists from different disciplines. Oykut takes part in interdisciplinary projects such as Laut Ma Le Rei (since 2019) and she is one of the founding members of the audio visual performance collective Black On Black. Lives and works in Berlin, Germany since 2017.
Awards/Grants/ Residencies
2023 NEUSTARTplus-Stipendium der Stiftung Kunstfonds/NEUSTART KULTUR der BKM, DE
2021 Research grant, The Senate Department for Culture and Europe, DE
2017 Hosted by Künstlerhaus Bremen, DE
2010 Roads, hosted by Fondazione Teseco per l’Arte, Pisa, IT
2009 Hosted by Lille3000 for the exhibitions “I dream but..” and “Istanbul Traversée”, Lille, FR
2007 Light, İllumination and Electricity, hosted by Santral Istanbul, TR
2007 Topkapı, Spedition, Bremen, DE
2007 Open Sound Studio, project with Anabala, hosted by Townhouse Gallery, Kairo, EG
2006-2005-2004 K-34,Köln/Istanbul Partnership project, hosted by Stadt Köln, DE
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Ensemble, Centre D’Art Madeleine Lambert Vénissieux, FR
2018 Still Here, Apartment Project, Berlin, DE
2016 You Are Here, Gallery Herold, Bremen, DE
2016 Swimmers In The Field, Comic Salon Erlangen, DE
2015 Sketchbooks Of Constantinople And Hagia Sophia, Galata Greek School, Istanbul, TR
2015 Swimmers In The Field, x-ist, Istanbul, TR
2013 What Is My Name, Present Future exhibition, Artissima Art Fair, Torino, IT
2013 Indistinct, x-ist, Istanbul, TR
2011 With Bathing Suit On Underneath, artSümer, Istanbul, TR
2010 Original, No Subtitles, artSümer, Istanbul, TR
2008 Lost Passport, Kibla Multimedijski Center, Maribor, SLO
2006 City Can, Under Construction Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul, TR
2006 City Can Kuştepe Bench, Under Construction Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul, TR
2005 Utopia, Karaburun Festival, Smyrna, TR
Group Exhibitions / Events
2023 Celebrating New Wave/Kunst in Almanya’da Sanat, curators: Neriman Bayram, Martina Priessner, Didem Yazıcı, Kommunales Kino, Freiburg, DE
2023 Beyond Home/A Feminist Reconstruction, Idea-concept: Özlem Sarıyıldız, Selda Asal, Şirin Fulya Erensoy, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, DE
2022 TWISTER, nGbK, Berlin, DE
2021 AKİS, concept by Selda Asal, Apartment Project Berlin, DE
2021 “das Ich im Wir” curated by Yolanda Kaddu-Mulindwa, Galerie im Saalbau, Berlin, DE
2020 Lauschen Statt Rauschen, 25th anniversary of Haus Schwarzenberg, Galerie Neurotitan, Berlin, DE
2019 Es War Einmal In Einer Unbekannten Zukunft , curated by Ozgur Erkok Moroder und Kristina Kramer, Exhibition part of 48 Stunden Neukölln Festival, Richards 20, Berlin, DE
2019 SİS/In The Blink Of A Bird, nGbK, Berlin, DE
2019 Elsewhere, exhibition with Ekin Saçlıoğlu, Sofa Hotel Istanbul, TR
2019 Temas, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Fine Arts Department, Istanbul, TR
2018 Built Temporality, curated by Sophia Tabatadze und Tinatin Gurgenidze, part of 1st Architectural Biennale of Tbilisi, former KGB-building, Gldani, Tbilisi, GE
2017 Rumble In The Jungle, Gallery Neurotitan, Berlin, DE
2017 In The Blink Of A Bird, Depo, Istanbul, TR
2017 No Matter, Apartment Project, Berlin, DE
2016 Stay With Me, Artist Diaries From Istanbul, Project developed by Selda Asal, 21er Haus, Vienna, AT
2016 Inverse Grayscale, Pasinger Fabrik, curated by Ceren Erdem, Munich, DE
2016 Don’t Be Late Home, Istanbul Modern, curated by Cem Sorguç, Istanbul, TR
2015 Line, Art Rooms, curated by Basak Senova, Kyrenia, CY
2015 Urban Justice, Cer Modern, Ankara, TR
2015 Istanbul, Passion, Joy, Fury, MAXXI, curated by Hou Hanru and Ceren Erdem, Rome, IT
2014 Stay With Me, Artist Diaries From Istanbul, Apartment Project, Berlin, DE
2014 Growing Up In A Growing Metropolis, curated by Sinan Logie, Studio X, Istanbul, TR
2014 Jerusalem Show, part of Qualandia International, curated by Basak Senova
2014 The Nature Of The Material, curated by Adnan Yildiz, Polistar, İstanbul, TR
2014 A Universe Supplementary To This One, curated by Fatoş Üstek, x-ist, Istanbul, TR
2013 Online, Kuad Gallery, Istanbul, TR
2013 Kirli Çıkı, Bant Mag Mekan, Istanbul,TR
2012 Journeys. Wanderings in contemporary Turkey, curated by Hervé Mikaeloff, Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton, Paris, FR
2012 Aftermath, curated by Başak Şenova, Akbank Kültür Ve Sanat Merkezi, Istanbul, TR
2012 Siyah/White, curated by Başak Şenova, CDA Projects, Istanbul, TR
2011 La Production de l’Espace: Kent Üzerine Bir Sergi, ALANistanbul, Istanbul, TR
2011 Destroy Istanbul, organised by Bant Magazine, Neurotitan Gallery, Berlin, DE
2010 Roads, Fondazione Teseco per l’Arte, Pisa, IT
2010 Diverçity: Learning from Istanbul, Centrum Sztuki Współczesnej Zamek Ujadowski, curated by Serra Özhan and Kaja Pavelek, Warsaw, PL
2010 Park: a possibility, curated by Can Altay, Maçka Cumhuriyet Parkı, Istanbul, TR
2009 Tracing, Kasa Galeri, Istanbul, TR
2009 The Spectacle Of The Everyday, curated ny Hou Hanru, 10th International Lyon Biennial, MAC Lyon, FR
2009 Quel Istanbul?, curated by François Saint Pierre, Centre de Photographie de Lectoure, FR
2009 No Room For Panic, Galeri Outlet, Istanbul, TR
2009 I Dream But.. (w/ Selda Asal and Serdar Ateşer) Maison Folie Moulins de Lille, FR
2009 Istanbul Traversée, curated by Caroline Naphegyi, Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, FR
2008 Zig-Zag, curated by Koray Kantarcıoğlu und İnci Furni, Hafriyat Karaköy, Istanbul, TR
2008 Index. Zeichen des Alltags, curated by Deniz Ova and Daniela Gregori, Kunstraum Palais Porcia, Wien, AT
2008 Coincidences, Intuitions, Fictions on Istanbul, curated by Deniz Erbaş, Atlas Pasajı, Istanbul, TR
2008 Save as… , curated by Derya Yücel, Trienniale Bovisa, Milan, IT
2007 Allah Korkusu, Hafriyat Karaköy, Istanbul, TR
2007 Light, Illumination and Electricity, curated by Basak Senova, Enerji Müzesi, Istanbul, TR
2007 Sobe! Curated by Leyla Gediz, Bilsar Building, Istanbul, TR
2007 Slow Space Fast Pace, curated by Rana Öztürk, Cork, IRL
2007 2+1, Nice Kids, mit Selda Asal und Neriman polat, 10th Istanbul Biennial, curated by Hou Hanru, Istanbul, TR
2007 Hafriyat, Hafriyat Karaköy, Istanbul, TR
2007 From The Owner With View, curated by Derya Yücel, Istanbul, TR
2007 Nothing Is Going To Be Allright, Apartment Project, Istanbul, TR
2007 Ardından Değil Karşısına, organiziert von Radikal Zeitung, curated by Övül Durmuşoğlu, Istanbul, TR
2006 Everything’s Gonna Be Allright, Apartment Project, Istanbul, TR
2006 Rejection Episodes, curated by Basak Senova, Vooruit Art Center, Ghent, BE
2006 Local Heaven, Hafriyat Group Exhibition, Diyarbakır, TR
2006 Topkapı, Spedition, Bremen, DE
2006 All About Lies, Apartment Project, Istanbul, TR
2006 İstanbul Defterdarları, Karşı Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2005 Project: Production Fault, Hafriyat Group Exhibition, Antrepo, Istanbul, TR
2005 Öcü, Neurotitan Gallery, Berlin, DE
2004 The Visitor, curated by Emre Baykal und Rob Peree, Galerist, Istanbul, TR
2004 23. International Contemporary Artists Exhibition, curated by Basak Senova, Eyal Danon, Anton Lederer, Istanbul-Diyarbakır, TR
2004 Sıkıntı ve Gökkuşağı, Aksanat, Istanbul, TR
2003 Belvü, Nur-u Ziya Sokak, Istanbul, TR
2002 Dükkan Dövmaciyan, Anabala Han, Istanbul, TR
Performance
2023 KAI&Black On Black, Galerie Neurotitan, Berlin, DE
2023 Lau-Ma_Le-Rei, Berlin Asia Arts Festival, with Michal Hirsch, Nicolas Schulze, Alexander Beierbach, Yuko Matsuyama, Berlin, DE
2022 Black On Black and Yuko Matsuyama, Eschschloraque Rümpschrümp, Berlin, DE
2022 Black On Black, “SilkWorm Sessions” audio-visual album release event, Apartment Project, Berlin, DE
2022 Black On Black, raussen Stadt Festival, Berlin, DE
2022 Black On Black, Performance with Fezaya Firar, Twister exhibition finissage, nGbK, Berlin, DE
2021 Laut- Ma- Le- Rei, performance with Yuko Matsuyama, Nicolas Schulze and Alexander Beierbach, Au Topsi Pohl, Berlin, DE
2021 Black On Black, City Kirche Offener St Jakob, part of the exhibition Fractured Spine, Zurich, CH
2021 Laut-Ma-Le-Rei, live stream performance with Yuko Matsuyama and Nicolas Schulze, Kultur Macht Potsdam, DE
2021 Black On Plague, live stream performance with Fezaya Firar, Chromatic Wednesdays, Apartment Project, Berlin, DE
2020 Schattenkabinett- Sketchshow, collaboration with KAI, part of Hoffest / pandemie-live-stream event by Haus Schwarzenberg, Berlin, DE
2019 Laut-ma-le-rei/ Movement and Sound Improvisation Vol 11, performance with Yuko Matsuyama and Nicolas Schulze, Eschschloraque, Berlin, DE
2019 Black On Black, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), part of Salon Displaced Replaced, organised by Ipek Ipekçioglu and Renk Magazin, Radialsystem, Berlin, DE
2019 Black On Black, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), Artlake Festival, DE
2019 Black On Black at Rixdorfer Schmiede collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), part of 48 Stunden Neukölln Festival, Berlin, DE
2019 Black On Black, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), exhibition opening, SİS/In The Blink Of A Bird, nGbK, Berlin, DE
2018 A Silent Room, open studio performance, collaboration with Joshua Tennent, Yuko Matsuyama, Fernando N. Pellicoli and Carlos Osatinsky, Ufer Studios, Berlin, DE
2018 Black On Black, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), Teil des Survive/Auszeichnung künstlerischer Projektraume und initiativen 2018, Bar Babette, Berlin, DE
2018 A Silent Room, collaboration with Joshua Tennent, Yuko Matsuyama, Fernando N. Pellicoli and Carlos Osatinsky, Eschschloraque, Berlin, DE
2018 Finissage der Ausstellung Still Here von Ceren Oykut, collaboration with KAI, Yuko Matsuyama, Joshua Tennent, Apartment Project, Berlin, DE
2018 Black On Black, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), organised by Apartment Project, Kunstpunkt, Berlin, DE
2018 Black On Black, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), Project Space Festival, Apartmant Project, Berlin, DE
2017 Performance, finissage of the exhibition Out Of Frame von KAI, Das Labor, Berlin, DE
2017 White on White, collaboration with Fezayafirar (Melih Sarıgöl und Emre Sarıgöl), Acud Macht Neu, Berlin, DE
2017 A Silent Room, collaboration with Yuko Matsuyama, Galerie Neurotitan, Berlin, DE
2004-2010 Member of the music group Baba Zula as the visual artist
Publications contributed
Ord&Bild/Istanbul The City of Palimpsest, Nr:3-4, Sweden (2023)
Cin Ayşe Fanzin, March edition (2022)
Sakin Olmak (Gelassenheit, Was wir gewinnen, wenn wir älter werden) writer: Wilhelm Schmid, translation: Tanıl Bora, İletişim Yayınları, Istanbul (2022)
Arkadaşlıktaki Saadete Dair (Vom Glück Der Feundschaft) writer: Wilhelm Schmid, translation: Tanıl Bora, İletişim Yayınları, Istanbul (2021)
Düşmanlığın Faydaları (Vom Nutzen der Feindschaft) writer: Wilhelm Schmid, translation: Tanıl Bora, İletişim Yayınları, Istanbul (2021)
Seks Olmayınca (Sexout) writer: Wilhelm Schmid, translation: Tanıl Bora, İletişim Yayınları, Istanbul (2021)
Hepsi Hikaye, writer: Gaye Boralıoğlu, İletişim Yayınları, Istanbul (2021)
Vitamin D3, Today’s Best In Contemporary Drawing, conceived and edited by Phaidon editors, Phaidon (2021)
Aşk İçin İstediğimiz Başka Hayvanlar, writer: Defne Sandalcı, Metis Yayınları, Istanbul (2020)
Hayat Dudaklarda Mey, writer: Murat Meriç, Overteam Yayınları, Istanbul (2019)
Rakı And Fish, writer: Tan Morgül, Halk Plajı Yayınları, Istanbul(2014)
Unleashed: Contemporary Art from Turkey, edited by Hossein Amirsadeghi, Thames&Hudson (2011)
Bant Magazine, Istanbul (2006, 2011)
Bir-Bir Magazine, Istanbul (2010, 2011)
Hurrem, writer: Barış Pirhasan, İletişim Yayınları (2011)
Radikal Newspaper (2010, 2012)
Istanbul Zombi 2066, Mery Cuesta, Tan cemal Genç, Göksu Gül, Emir Yardımcı, Cem Dinlenmiş, CerenOykut, Barcelona (2009)
Lapses, Editor: Başak Şenova,Venice Biennal Turkish Pavillon (2009)
Istanbul Traverseé, Dolors Soriano (Editorial Director), Published by ACTAR, Lille (2009)
Roll Magazine, Istanbul (2004-2009)
Fuct-D Magazine For Contemporary Drawing, Berlin (2007)
Hafriyat Ameleleri, Kompilation, Hafriyat Yayınları, Istanbul (2007)
KONTROL, Perspectives on control in contemporary art, culture, technology, information channels and politics, Internet magazine (2006)
L-inc Magazin For Contemporary Drawing, Wien (2006)
İstanbul Defterdarları, Kompilation, Kollector: Tan Cemal Genç, Hafriyat Yayınları, Istanbul (2006)
Express Magazine, Istanbul (2004-2005)
Vs. Dergi, Istanbul (2004)
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ceren oykut 