Sep 24, 2026 - Sep 27, 2026

The Dawn

Ege Özyuvacı

In works defined by bold outlines, vibrant fields of color, and simplified figures, the sun, moon, planets, waves, plants, and fantastical beings hover between the realm of symbols and that of characters. The directness of graphic storytelling, the sense of movement inherent in animation, and the rhythm of surf culture lend continuity to this visual world.

Özyuvacı reconstructs—within her own visual language—the foundational method of mythology, which imbues the forces of nature and the universe with character. This world, where the sun, moon, and waves act as subjects, forms an evolving personal mythology through recurring figures and symbols. The realm of associations centering on the sea, islands, waves, the sun, and the moon intersects with Özyuvacı’s own name, establishing the Aegean region as a fundamental backdrop for this mythology.

The manifesto forming the exhibition’s conceptual framework draws a connection between human internal processes and the cycles of nature and the universe. Just as seasons, orbits, and waves move according to their own timelines, human transformations unfold within their own rhythms. Surfing—a significant part of Özyuvacı’s life—provides the experiential embodiment of this concept: reading the wave, waiting for the right moment, and joining its movement.

The sentence in the manifesto that most directly unlocks the world of the exhibition is this:

“Humans can have fun.”

For Özyuvacı, having fun is a way of navigating one’s emotions, preserving curiosity, and re-engaging with life through play.

“The Aegean: A bearer of happiness”

In the work of Ege Özyuvacı—whom curator Işık Gençoğlu describes as a “bearer of happiness”—happiness emerges as a foundational energy that flows between characters, emotions, and diverse modes of existence. This energy, spreading across the entire visual world through play, curiosity, and movement, establishes relationships between the figures.