Interview: Aslı Törün Erbengi
Luca Curci talks with Aslı Törün Erbengi during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, third appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

I was born in 1986, in İzmir, a beautiful Aegean city in Turkey. I studied Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Bilkent University. After graduation, I worked as an interior architect for six years. My academic discipline has been an important factor in moulding my perception and vision of art, but I met ceramics much earlier than that as a twelve years old. I tried to develop myself mostly by experiment, but also had the opportunity to be a student of various valuable artists. This interest that started as a childhood hobby gradually turned into a passion and became a big part of my life and my primary area of self-expression. I continue my work at my studio in İzmir.

Feelings, people, music I listen to, a poem that I read, my emotional mood and my experiences can be my inspiration. Although I reflect my works in organic and abstract forms as a contemporary artist of today, the legacy left to me by the ancient past of ceramics in the Anatolian lands I live in gives me a special strength while working. Converting the forms that I create into different sizes, proportions and variations expands my horizon and makes me feel free as a soul. Every form reveals and evokes another form. The creative process of clay and the surprises that come with it is like a journey where you will discover so many experiences and feelings. For this reason, I believe that every effort and always being on a journey is very meaningful and precious.

LUCA CURCI – What is art for you?
ASLI TÖRÜN ERBENGİ – For me, art is to nourish the patience of clay with the water of the soul and to visualize the smile of sculpture.

LC – What are you currently working on?
AE – I am working on two sculptures these days. Their names are “ Take My Hand” and “Give Your Hand”. These two sculptures represent an event and moment that I lived. We all go through tough times from time to time. At such times, the support and unity of your closest loved ones give you strength. These sculptures represent love, interlocking and solidarity.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
AE – I can answer this question as “ life itself” and “my own life”. People, feelings, a poem I read, music I listen and my experiences can be my inspirations.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
AE – When I create my sculptures in series, I am working on variations of a specific theme. In addition to this, I also have works that are not serial and that I work independently.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
AE – There is a continuity of forms between my early works and the ones I created today. On the other hand, every form reveals and evokes another form. In my opinion, this gives it new meanings without losing my current style.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
AE – The message and the story behind the sculpture “Birth” is: Although we are connected to where we belong, one day we will realize that “we have been thrown into the world”. Even though there are differences, the traces of where we belong are always with us. The connection between the theme of the festival and “Birth” is; that there are “borders” such as family or society we live in but we all have our own “souls” which bring us new features in addition to where we belong. For the sculpture “Rise” the message is: Every effort evolves into maturity. When the time comes, it rises to the top and the place where dreams are. I can explain the relationship between the theme of the festival and “Rise” is; that striving and struggling to achieve the set goal and dreams are enough to eliminate the “limits”.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?
AE – The works I participated in at the festival were part of preexisting works. However, when choosing my works, I paid particular attention to the works that could relate to the theme of the festival.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
AE – I think it is a very effective platform that succeeds in reaching various branches of art and artists from all over the world, bringing them together under the same roof, and allowing artists to express themselves freely.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
AE – It was a great pleasure for me to meet you and be a part of this festival. Thank you so much!