Unforbidden-Art-2

OZAN OGANER

Born in 1973, Ozan Oganer graduated from the Sculpture Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylül University. In his recent works, the artist has turned to lace as a material, shaping it by using only the void and adding permeability to the object through light play. The word "Mol" means "water" in the Maya language. It is also the name of the month that celebrates the escape from the Great Flood, which is an important part of their mythology according to the Maya calendar. The gods named Bacap, who represent the four main directions of the earth, survived the Great Flood and re-established the ancient world order that ensured the continuation of humanity. The goddess seen in this work titled "Mol" emerged within this new order. The lace-worked sculpture also functions as a kind of mask. In ancient cultures, it was believed that a telepathic connection was established with the gods through masks worn by priests during religious ceremonies. The person wearing the mask would take on the personality of the god, becoming a kind of god-human. Lace is an important element in Turkish handicrafts, symbolizing the labor and purity of women, with roots dating back to ancient times. With the goddess figure made from lace, the artist materializes qualities such as productivity, purity, and sanctity, which have historically been attributed to women in various cultures. While covering the woman’s body and sexuality with transparent lace, the artist also makes the cultural and intellectual aspects hidden beneath the covering visible.