Cengiz Çekil's 'I Am Still Alive' Retrospective at Arter Explores Death and Hope

The Arter gallery in Istanbul is showcasing 'I Am Still Alive', an extensive retrospective of the groundbreaking Turkish contemporary artist Cengiz Çekil (1945-2015). Curated by Eda Berkmen, this exhibition comprises over 170 pieces from Çekil's oeuvre, featuring notable works such as 'Obsession' (1974/2013), 'A Mortal Monument No. 1' (1990), 'Arrangement No. 5' (1987), 'What Time Is It? Time Machines' (2008), '1200 Watches' (2005), 'Waxings' (1999), 'Calendar of a Year Lived' (1977), and 'Smashed into Pieces' (1998). Çekil’s art reflects the political and economic turmoil in Türkiye during the 1970s and 1980s, characterized by violence, inflation, and a military coup. The exhibition features a nine-hour video, 'The School of Cengiz Çekil' (2015), by his former student Vahap Avşar, and will be on display until 22 October 2023.