Maral Taşkırıcı : Lost on Venus
Maral Taşkırıcı’s (series of) work is a holistic response to what other people see as random configurations. To the artist, the ability to see things within things is a challenge to see the beyond. She thinks of her work as a continuous exploration of her individual psyche and her longing for a connection. It is a reflection of her struggle between self-expression and the chaos of the subconscious. In her practice of abstraction, she controls the fluidity and sets free the movements of the paint on the canvas, in order to let the material shape its own form. Resulting in a psychedelic abstraction, the pieces signify the simplicity in chaos and the harmony in deformation.
The exhibition named after the accomplished -yet lost- mission of Vanera 7 which is the first space craft has been assigned to explore the planet Venus in 1970 by the Soviet Union. Humankind had managed to transfer the surface data of the planet Venus for twenty three minutes. Environmental conditions of the particular planet caused destruction of everything else which doesn’t belong there.
“The thoughts I had had a persistent truth which were miles away from what they called reality. A very isolated existence was more than enough. The intrusive thoughts in my head were all consuming. I was convinced of their truth and overwhelmed by their power. The world around me is so altered that although familiar to the others, it makes no sense to them.”
Maral Taşkırıcı
Maral, born in 1996 in Istanbul, Turkey, is an interdisciplinary artist with a primary focus on ceramics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design from Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti. Her work delves into emotional and social themes, particularly exploring the experiences of female figures constrained by societal roles, often in surreal and symbolic landscapes intertwined with nature. Maral’s use of hand-shaped forms highlights her deep connection with the material and the creative process, showcasing her interest in design. She reimagines everyday objects—such as vases, plates, and ashtrays—by incorporating them into her installations, transforming them into art. This transformation invites viewers to reconsider the ordinary, challenging the aesthetics of daily life and reinforcing her focus on reinterpreting familiar objects through an artistic lens.