Mehmet AKKAYA

- He was born in 1972 in Turkey. He had his primary and secondary education in Burdur, Turkey.

- He gradvated Gazi Üniversity, Ankara, as an art teacher in 1994

- His work have been exhibited in many exhibitions both in Turkey and abroad, and many of them are in some prestigious collections. Apart from his Art Works he is also working on “Theater settings and decors”, costumes, sculpture and ceramics.

- Currently,  he is working actively as an “Art consultant” of the Tepecik International Art Organization and he is also a member of the committee of the World of International Art Camp Organization.

- Mehmet Akkaya, who is still working as an Art and Sculpture teacher in Aydın Yüksel Yalova Fine Arts High School, Aydın , Turkey. Is going on his Art work in “Makkaya Fine Arts Center” in Aydın, Turkey.

IN SEARCH OF TRACES

Art I think is a long journey of explorations and soul-searching.  And the artist is the inventor of this journey.  I distance myself from all the "...ism’s" of the art world though they may be descriptive, just because they also reflect a sense of frame with restrictive patterns.  What I create in fact reveals the imagery particles of my journey that I find in the depths of my soul.  We are neither stable nor static beings who can stay the same in the journey of life.  Is it possible to be apart from the scheme of the universe while everything in it is constantly changing?  Of course not and so my painting series vary differently with subtle changes. 

I have no fixation with the use of any material and techniques in my work. The only rule I have is; whatever media that I may use, it must contribute to the meaning of my art.  I use any media that may enhance the outlook of my work and also support its expressions.  I use materials that include broadcloth, cotton-fabric, string, feathers, scraps of paper, wet wipes, plant fibers etc in those works. I sometimes produce my own paper from waste paper while I explore different possibilities that these materials may give.  You can see the samples of this in my Kökler (Roots) works.  

I aim to represent the symbolic images of Today in a way that I can reflect the true meanings of them over the surfaces that I create.  I prefer simplicity in my style and the colors that I choose.  Therefore, any material in any color can be my media.  I use oil-color, watercolor, acrylic paint, natural dyes and even further, any organic product that may give color such as tea or coffee.   So becomes the color I choose also my media.

I am in search of traces.  I wonder and search through my works. I go on giving myself chances to explore, to face new discoveries and see the changes of this path.  I am curious, painting the path with all its changes and wondering where it goes.  That is what you may see in my art.

Solo Exhibitions

2016-”KÖKLER” Yolo Art – İzmir, Turkey

2015-”KÖKLER”  Remax Pasha Art Gallery – Aydın, Turkey

2014- “Makkaya Reflections” Katakomben Theater im Girardeth Hause- Essen, Germany

2013-“Primodiall Love-3” St Mary Curc Art Gallery, London, England

2013-“Primodiall Love-2” Stoke Newington Library Art Gallery, London, England

2013-“Primodiall Love-1” London Alevi Cultural Center Art Gallery, London, England

2013- “The Callender of Storm” Negotino Za Kultura, Negotino, Macedonia

2013-  “The Callender of Storm” Galeria Magnolia Magaza, Bitola, Macedonia

2013- “14 to 14” Yazıcıoğlu Cultural Center, Aydın, Turkey

2013- “İlmik, ilmik” Çetin Emeç Gallery, İzmir, Turkey

2012- “Makkaya Retrospective Exhibition” Yazıcıoğlu Cultural Center, Aydın, Turkey

2012- “12 Turkish Artist are in Oslo Exhibition” Kunstanslaren, Oslo Norway

2011- “Nazilli Lütfi Selek Art Gallery” Nazilli, Turkey

2010- “İbramaki Art Gallery” Kuşadası, Turkey

2010- “Çetin Emeç Gallery” İzmir, Turkey

2010- “Adnan Menderes University Art Gallery” Aydın, Turkey

2009- “10.th Fakir Baykurt Art and Culture Dasy Exhibition” Burdur, Turkey

2009-“Manucipal of Balçova Gallery, İzmir, Turkey

2009- “The Haller Youth Center” Eskişehir, Turkey

2009- “The Norm Art Gallery” İzmir, Turkey

2009- “The Forum Mall” Aydın, Turkey

2007- “8.th Fakir Baykurt Art and Culture Dasy Exhibition” Burdur, Turkey

2007- “Fatma Suat Orhon Museum and Gallery” Söke, Turkey

2007- “The Turkish Republic Fine Art Gallery-  Aydın, Turkey

1999-“Kırıkkale Cultural Center” Kırıkkale, Turkey

1998- “Antakya Cultural Center” Hatay, Turkey

1993- “Burdur Cultural Center” Burdur, Turkey