Ozan Oganer isn’t your average sculptor. While the Turkish artist is stringent in his adherence to scale and anatomy, and displays all the technical know-how garnered during his time at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylül University, in Izmir, Turkey, his chosen material is far from conventional. For his pieces, which can range from human forms and busts, to shoes, owls and elephants, Oganer prefers to work with lace.
Oganer has had two solo exhibitions, and his works can be seen in private and public collections, including at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. More recently, Oganer, who’s represented in the UAE by Dubai’s Artspace gallery, has teamed up with The Design Shop by S*uce to create a collection for Art Month.
Named Ozan’s Fairytale Series, the enchanting collection is inspired by classic children’s stories, and includes references to Bambi, Aladdin’s lamp, and the evil queen’s enchanted mirror and a larger-than-life red apple from Snow White. His trademark lacework with acrylic and resin makes for an unexpected collection of pieces, which will be displayed at The Design Shop in Wasl Square until the end of next month.
The use of lace adds a new dimension to Oganer’s creations. It introduces whimsy and a sense of the fantastical. But it also offers an intriguing interplay between what is seen and what is camouflaged. There is an inherent transparency to the material, and only the briefest of glimpses of what lies beneath.
sdenman@thenational.ae
