Helikon Art Center

‘INSANITY’

Insanity has been imagined beyond universal norms. Therefore, it is a stigmatizing concept used by the rest of the society to define a marginal individual. 

Artists are frequently being called insane. However, the art itself is developed not through ‘successfully rising’ artists, who are able to sell their artworks mainly thanks to their marketing strategies; instead the art is progressive through artists, who are often stigmatized with insanity and who have no place in a competitive art market. Nevertheless, these are real artists engaging in production, destruction and in a way rebellion. 

In this context, we would like to invite artists to our residence in order to question the relationship between the artist and insanity.

Please click for further details.

Science fiction is a powerful and unique form of artistic expression of humanity’s anxieties and dreams of the future. It is often spoken that the genre holds an uncanny ability of future sight, it brings complex concepts of science and takes a unique approach to the world with fiction and speculation. Science fiction raises questions of ethics and points at futures possible dystopias before it happens, allowing mankind the time to re-evaluate themselves. Historical events continue to inspire sci-fi and sci-fi inspires new technologies.

For this reason Helikon Art Center is hosting an art residency with the chosen theme “Science Fiction”

We invite sci-fi artists from around the world to join us to discuss, consume and make sci-fi content in. The author of the famous sci-fi speculative evolution novel All Tomorrows, C. M. Kösemen will be participating as our guest of honor.

“The artist is a three-dimensional explorer; simultaneously exploring his or her identity, traveling into to the darkness of society and looking for being human.”

Opening: January 21st, Helikon Art Gallery @ 17:00

Please click on the poster to go to exhibition page

“This video is a fruit of my ongoing inquiry into the feelings of home. Long before filming commenced, I nourished my interest in the theme, picking up and holding people’s personal stories. I received one story on the 22nd of February from someone whose home was turned upside down in the following few days.

Half a year later I listened again and understood that despite never referencing the calamitous political events that ensued, the story was always responding to the history and connecting it to the present. This story narrates and underlies the video.”

Helikon proudly announces that artworks made in Helikon between 2014-2022 will be exhibited in Ankara Law Soceity ABEM Atilla Sav Gallery on 10th of September until 21st of September.

This work shows the observation, reflection and actions of the author, who left Russia after the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine and traveled around Eastern Europe and Turkey in search of temporary housing.

One of the great article about Helikon / Helikon hakkında yazılmış en güzel makalelerden birisi. Yücel Alpay Demir’e teşekkürlerimizle.

https://www.yenikocaeli.com/yazar/yucel-alpay-demir/helikon/19782.html

A short animation about climate activism made during Helikon Art Residency ‘Rebellion’ now on. Created by Doğa Karaalp & Niyal Alizada.

FOOTAGES

13th International Art Residency ‘Rebellion’ ended with high participation exhibition opening in Helikon Art Center. District governor Mr. Necip Çakmak honuored us his visit.