Şafak Gürboğa

14/07/2025

‘The Third Space’
17.07.25 - 15.08.25

An exhibition about cultural negotiation, political resistance & the reimagining of community.

Presenting the work of five artists living between
Australia & Europe, who have been forced to leave their homelands through migration, displacement, or asylum.
Their artistic practices have been shaped - and continue to evolve- though the crossing of physical, cultural and emotional borders.

Ayse Nur Cakir Felat Erkozan
Handan Tufan
Rasim Aslan, Safak Gürboga
Curated by Rasim Aslan & Safak Gürboga

Opening 17.07.25 6-9pm

01/06/2023

The Fall and Winter
Part-I

I’m 1971 after an earthquake in Bingol, Turkey, those who lost their houses were forced to live in government shelters. A friction arose between two neighbouring families. Heightened tension, aided by their opposing ethnicities, escalated to death. One member from each family.

This story of retribution, ethnic rivalry and poverty, speaks to deeper problems in the region. Its implications reach outward to the present day, in Turkey and throughout the world.‘What Colour Was The Soil That Day’ are impressions of the land where my parents had fled. In questioning man-made conflicts, I examine the relationship of geological matter, its beauty, harshness and parallels with human behaviours.

‘The Night’ reimagines a childhood memory from my mother and the trauma that arose from this event. A silver tray carefully placed against a door became the improvised alarm.
An attempt to worn the sleeping family against intruders.

Spatial thanks to;

19/02/2023

Greek mythology No:3

16/11/2020

“Flag Series”

Mixed media, 120 x 66 cm , 2012.

Every nation considers its national flag as sacred and precious. It symbolises with the country’s establishment, and serves as a potent symbol of nation’s unity, pride, and dignity. Radical nationalist groups often burn and walk on the flags of the countries that they oppose in public protests. This practice of desecrating flag is the satisfaction of the aggressive and violent part of the human nature. In my flag series, I once more interpret this satisfaction and destruction in aestetic style by bringing the countries who have been in conflict with each other.

09/11/2020

18/03/2020

Basic Education

We are regularly trained by the state, society and family in a particular area or subject.
Also, when these education models are used together with the “mandatory” phrase, the situation
becomes an intervention beyond our own control. At this point, I think that “education” word mostly
refers to discipline, rehabilitation, pacification and manipulation policies. We live with a patriarchal
political language that sanctify violence and heroize corpses. Despite all kinds of physical and mental
violence, we need to maintain our future. But the planning our future is not up to us.

This is how the elements of the project emerged. “This is not my travel preparation” is the first oil
painting I made on the people who is the same age generation as me and the people who died while
their military service; during the basic art education classes at the academy in 2010. The difference
between basic military training and basic art education is the same distinction between to create and
to destroy. The fundamental rights of human beings are living and freedom. I refuse any military and
weapon training in view of these fundamental rights. However, as I mentioned before, every man living
in the Republic of Turkey have to get this education.
I will be subjected to this mandatory military education for 21 days during the Darağaç exhibition. In
this case, the question I ask myself and you is: “How do you learn to kill someone in 21 days?”

Oil on canvas 35 x 42 cm, 2010
Oil on canvas 180 x 230 cm, 2019
@ Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

12/12/2018

“Olympic athletes, as figures sharing qualities such as talent, commitment and strong motivation; often set their lives on being the best in the world. They have to train for hours in order to perfect and preserve their ideal physical forms. This means an athlete should spend 8 hours a day, 7 times a week to develop a strong mind and body. What would a country do in order to develop itself? How does it compete with other countries and how can this competition be visible through artist’s works?” -Fırat Arapoğlu

Work Credit:

‘Tiananmen Square’ 2012, oil on canvas, 100x150cm
‘Berlin’ 2012, oil on canvas, 67x125cm
’1982’ 2012, woodcut,73x84cm

🌿Simbart Projects

📷 Ridvan Bayrakoglu


@ Akaretler

10/12/2018

Thanks to all!!! 🌿💙

great team Simbart Projects 🖤
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