Can Pekdemir, born in 1982, working and living in Istanbul. Worked as a full time instructor in Visual Communication Design Department of İstanbul Bilgi University between 2006 and 2012. Now working as a part-time instructor at Bahçeşehir University. Represented by The Empire Project Gallery
canpekdemir@gmail.com
Statement about my Works on Deformation of Bodily Forms
My studies are focused on reconstructing and deforming the bodies by either altering the physical conditions in which the entity exists, and/or treating them as test subjects for virtual experiments while reshaping the systems we now have and thus documenting the evolvement in time.
The form of the bodies, the organs, the skeletal and the muscular system we and other living forms have in common is in a relationship with the environmental conditions by which we are surrounded. We are surrounded by physical impacts to which we are already adapted, like gravity, pressure or temperature. As method, I am willing to observe and document the deformation of bodily forms while these forces are being altered as one method. As for another method, which is close to the conditions of physical abnormality, I am trying to observe how the surface anatomy will react, resist and reshape while the inner systems -muscular, skeletal, tissue etc.- are behaving differently from the way they are accustomed to.
Also “Above the Clavicle: Works on Bodily Forms I” is the first part of my observation of bodily forms concentrating mostly on the human surface anatomy of the head and neck area, resulting in portraits. My endeavour is not only to document the physical changes but also to capture the emotional state of the subjects under various conditions.
My studies are focused on reconstructing and deforming the bodies by either altering the physical conditions in which the entity exists, and/or treating them as test subjects for virtual experiments while reshaping the systems we now have and thus documenting the evolvement in time.
The form of the bodies, the organs, the skeletal and the muscular system we and other living forms have in common is in a relationship with the environmental conditions by which we are surrounded. We are surrounded by physical impacts to which we are already adapted, like gravity, pressure or temperature. As method, I am willing to observe and document the deformation of bodily forms while these forces are being altered as one method. As for another method, which is close to the conditions of physical abnormality, I am trying to observe how the surface anatomy will react, resist and reshape while the inner systems -muscular, skeletal, tissue etc.- are behaving differently from the way they are accustomed to.
Also “Above the Clavicle: Works on Bodily Forms I” is the first part of my observation of bodily forms concentrating mostly on the human surface anatomy of the head and neck area, resulting in portraits. My endeavour is not only to document the physical changes but also to capture the emotional state of the subjects under various conditions.
Recent Exhibitons
2021
• Akaretler Artweek V, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Wizard and The Garden, Group Exhibition, Erimtan Museum, Ankara
• Akaretler Artweek V, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Wizard and The Garden, Group Exhibition, Erimtan Museum, Ankara
2020
• Still Human: A reflection on how we react to what’s new, Madrid Spain
• Still Human: A reflection on how we react to what’s new, Madrid Spain
2019
• bashibazouk vol.4, Group Exhibition, EKAVART Gallery & The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Akaretler Artweek III, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Akaretler Artweek II, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• bashibazouk vol.4, Group Exhibition, EKAVART Gallery & The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Akaretler Artweek III, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Akaretler Artweek II, The Empire Project, İstanbul
2015
• Contemporary Istanbul, İstanbul
• Sydney Contemporary, Yavuz Gallery, Sydney
• Above the Clavicle: Works on Bodily Forms I, Solo Exhibition, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Art Stage Singapore, Yavuz Gallery, Singapore
• Contemporary Istanbul, İstanbul
• Sydney Contemporary, Yavuz Gallery, Sydney
• Above the Clavicle: Works on Bodily Forms I, Solo Exhibition, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Art Stage Singapore, Yavuz Gallery, Singapore
2014
• Contemporary Istanbul, İstanbul
• Unseen Photo Fair, Amsterdam
• Contemporary Istanbul, İstanbul
• Unseen Photo Fair, Amsterdam
2013
• bashibazouk vol.2, Group Exhibition, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Contemporary Istanbul, İstanbul
• Laboratory of Life, Group Exhibition, Sanatorium, İstanbul
• bashibazouk vol.2, Group Exhibition, The Empire Project, İstanbul
• Contemporary Istanbul, İstanbul
• Laboratory of Life, Group Exhibition, Sanatorium, İstanbul
Interviews, Articles and Contributions
New Philosopher Magazine, Mind and/or Body?, September 2022
BeauxArts Magazine, 2018, France
Construct Magazine, Yale University Press, 2018
See Yourself X, Madeline Schwartzman, Black Dog Publishing, September 2016
Anatomy Rocks: Flesh and Bones in Contemporary Art, Cernunnos Publishing, October 2016
Thnk Tnk Magazine, Artistic Contribution, Germany, April 2016
Wired Magazine/Japan, Supporting Visuals, Japan, April 2016
Booooooom.com, Artist Spotlight, Canada, March 2016
Bone Magazine, Turkey, February 2016
Supporting Visuals for Psikeart Magazine, Turkey, 2015
The Guardian, United Kingdom, July, 2015
Istanbul Art News, Turkey, June 2015
Lazagne Magazine, Italy, January 2015
Turn on Art, The Malaise of Substance: Can Pekdemir and Filippos Tsitsopoulos, Spain, March 2014
Faint Magazine, Australia, March 2014
Talk Magazine, Belgium, August 2013
Bant Magazine, Turkey, March 2013
3D Artist Magazine, United Kingdom, February 2013
Featured in Fubiz, France, 2013, 2014
Featured in Juxtapoz Magazine, Spain, 2012, 2013, 2014
Quotation Magazine, Japan, December 2012
BeauxArts Magazine, 2018, France
Construct Magazine, Yale University Press, 2018
See Yourself X, Madeline Schwartzman, Black Dog Publishing, September 2016
Anatomy Rocks: Flesh and Bones in Contemporary Art, Cernunnos Publishing, October 2016
Thnk Tnk Magazine, Artistic Contribution, Germany, April 2016
Wired Magazine/Japan, Supporting Visuals, Japan, April 2016
Booooooom.com, Artist Spotlight, Canada, March 2016
Bone Magazine, Turkey, February 2016
Supporting Visuals for Psikeart Magazine, Turkey, 2015
The Guardian, United Kingdom, July, 2015
Istanbul Art News, Turkey, June 2015
Lazagne Magazine, Italy, January 2015
Turn on Art, The Malaise of Substance: Can Pekdemir and Filippos Tsitsopoulos, Spain, March 2014
Faint Magazine, Australia, March 2014
Talk Magazine, Belgium, August 2013
Bant Magazine, Turkey, March 2013
3D Artist Magazine, United Kingdom, February 2013
Featured in Fubiz, France, 2013, 2014
Featured in Juxtapoz Magazine, Spain, 2012, 2013, 2014
Quotation Magazine, Japan, December 2012