Young Artists' Exhibition 'ARZUHAL' Opens at İstiklal Art Gallery

A group exhibition titled 'ARZUHAL', featuring works by current students and graduates of Yeditepe University's Faculty of Art and Design, has opened at the İstiklal Art Gallery of Beyoğlu Municipality. The exhibition, which brings together works by 36 artists, will remain on view through June 7.

'ARZUHAL' unites works produced by students and graduates of Yeditepe University's Faculty of Art and Design, bringing together pieces from a range of disciplines under one roof. The artists share a common thread: all graduated from the same faculty in recent years. Their work spans a broad range of expression, drawing on both traditional and contemporary art. The exhibition has been organized by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Art and Design, with curation by Öykü Demirci, a research assistant in the Department of Arts and Culture Management.

‘'DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, ONE COMMON GROUND: ART'

Prof. Gülveli Kaya, Dean of Yeditepe University's Faculty of Art and Design, spoke about the exhibition, noting that it is far more than a student event:

"These exhibitions are planned through a lengthy preparatory process within the faculty, with careful attention given to content, selection, and the spatial arrangement of the works. We see these events not only as a space for academic production but also as a platform that bridges art and society. Having our graduates' works in the exhibition allows us to follow their creative journeys in the art world and serves as an inspiring example for our current students of what an artistic life after graduation can look like. Organized by the dean's office of the faculty, this exhibition is guided by an approach that dissolves boundaries between departments and brings different disciplines together on the common ground of art. The title 'ARZUHAL' reflects this very idea. We regard each work as a tangible expression of the artist's inner world and creative desire."

‘THE FREE AND EXPERIMENTAL DIMENSION OF ARTISTIC PRODUCTION’

Öykü Demirci, the exhibition's curator and research assistant in the Department of Arts and Culture Management, spoke about the intention behind the show:

"The period of being a student is a very particular kind of time — one that allows for experimentation, for trial and error, and for making work freely. With this exhibition, we wanted to bring that creative and experimental phase into focus. The works on view by the 36 participating artists were produced during their time as students. Rather than being organized around a single theme, the pieces reflect each artist's process of exploration and the experience of making. Visitors will encounter the themes of city, nature, and the human figure, alongside abstract works. We also embraced an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together painting, graphic design, fashion design, and fine arts. The world today is a multilayered space where different disciplines increasingly intersect, and we felt it was important for the works to be in dialogue with one another and to engage with the concerns of our time."