In her conceptual works, Elmas Deniz calls attention to ecological changes occurring with capitalism and the age of the Anthropocene. She examines the changing of the landscape and the deterioration of the nature by humankind. Deniz is showing two works about disappeared flows of water. The first one is a three-dimensional topographic relief of Istanbul, spanning the area from Şişli to Taksim Square. On this relief, lost rivers and creeks are marked on the current roads. Deniz’s other piece centres on a creek near which she grew up, near Bergama. This wall installation, while focusing on the small and insignificant, calls attention to natural and human-caused environmental transformations and extinctions.
Elmas Deniz (b. 1981, Bergama, Turkey), lives and works in Istanbul. Deniz’s works investigate the intersections and points of entanglement between economics and nature. Deniz focuses on the capitalism-led deterioration of nature, human-nature relationship, the idea of nature throughout history, and ecological concerns. Her selected solo exhibitions: A Year Without a Summer, PILOT, Istanbul (2018); Seeing the Black Panther, PILOT, Istanbul (2014) and Elmas, Maçka Art Gallery, Istanbul (2012). Her selected group exhibitions are Nature in Art, MOCAK, Poland (2019); VIDEO FOREVER, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris (2016); SALTWATER: A Theory of Thought Forms, 14th Istanbul Biennial (2015).
EXHIBITED WORKS
Lost waters, 2019
Three dimensional wooden relief
68 × 100 × 75 cm
History of a particular nameless creek, 2019
Mixed media installation
Dimensions variable
History of a particular nameless creek [Angels], 2019
Pencil drawing on paper
85x138 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Wealth I], 2019
Collage
20 x 20 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Wealth II], 2019
Collage
20 x 20 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Gryneion coin Pinna Nobilis], 2019
Pencil drawing on paper
68 x 95 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Gryneion coin Apollon], 2019
Pencil drawing on paper
68 x 95 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Pinna Nobilis], 2019
Pinna Nobilis shells
73 x 96 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Around], 2019
Watercolour botanical drawings
Variable dimensions
History of a particular nameless creek [Portrait I], 2019
Acyrlic paint on canvas
33 x 44 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Portrait II], 2019
Acyrlic paint on canvas
33 x 44 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Portrait III], 2019
Acyrlic paint on canvas
33 x 44 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [“Insignificant-s”], 2019
Various seeds, freshwater molluscs, sea urchin shells, creek stone (11 pieces)
12,5 x 20 cm
History of a particular nameless creek [Pinna Nobilis pearls], 2019
25 years old pearls, museum glass, wooden frame
12 x 35 x 22 cm
Courtesy the artist and Zilberman Gallery (Berlin-Istanbul).
Commissioned by the 16th Istanbul Biennial.
Produced with the support of SAHA – Supporting Contemporary Art from Turkey.
