“Ömer Uluç: Beyond the Horizon” Exhibition Event

In Conversation with Ayşegül Sönmez and Seda Yörüker

Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Time: 18.30
Venue: Istanbul Modern Auditorium
Speakers: Ayşegül Sönmez, Seda Yörüker
Moderators: Öykü Özsoy Sağnak, Naz Uğurlu Benek

At the first public event of “Beyond the Horizon,” Istanbul Modern hosts Ayşegül Sönmez and Seda Yörüker, contributors to the catalogue of the exhibition, which sheds light on Ömer Uluç’s artistic journey. Exploring the artist’s intellectual world, his passion for the sea, the way he connects with science, and the digital transformations in his later works, the contributors will also reflect on their personal memories of Ömer Uluç in the talk. Moderated by Istanbul Modern’s Chief Curator Öykü Özsoy Sağnak and Assistant Curator Naz Uğurlu Benek, the event aims to offer a new perspective on Uluç’s multilayered artistic practice.

Ayşegül Sönmez:                                                                                                                                                       

Born in 1975 in Istanbul, Sönmez studied Italian Language and Literature at Istanbul University. She completed her master’s degree at Marmara University’s Faculty of Fine Arts with a thesis titled “Modern Despite Modernism in Turkish Painting.” She was the president of the Turkish branch of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA). In addition to organizing numerous educational programs, curating musical concerts, and hosting talks and art events, Sönmez taught at various universities and served as a jury member for events such as the Kyoto Awards.

Among the books she has edited are Umut Burnundan Dolaşarak (Sanatatak, 2019), Haksız Tahrik (Alef Publishing, 2020), and Evde Konuşmalar (Baksı Müzesi, 2021). She is also the author of Ben Ayşegül Sönmez: Çağın İçinde (Scala Publishing House, 2017), Çağdaş Sanat Var Mı? (Everest Publishing House, 2023), and Müzede Gör: Kahraman Hayvanlar (Türkiye İş Bankası Resim Heykel Müzesi, 2024). In 2012, she founded sanatatak.com, an independent arts and culture platform which is a member of the international ENNC network. She continues her work as editor-in-chief and writer for sanatatak.com.

Seda Yörüker:                                                                                                                                                           

After completing her undergraduate and graduate studies in Art History, Yörüker worked as an editor at Gençsanat magazine between 2007 and 2017. She taught Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art at Işık University’s Department of Visual Arts. Her writings have been published in a number of art magazines, newspapers, and digital arts and culture platforms. She has participated as a speaker and moderator in various panels organized by museums, universities, and art institutions. She is the author of Server Demirtaş: A Journey of Movement (Bozlu Art Project, 2020) and has contributed essays to exhibition catalogues on artists including Sibel Horada, Ekin Saçlıoğlu, Melek Mazıcı, Lebriz Rona, and Sabri Berkel.

In 2009, she edited The Chemistry of Fragmentation, a book on Ömer Uluç published by Yapı Kredi Publications. She translated Cézanne, published by Türkiye İş Bank Cultural Publications. She curated the exhibition “Dear, Don’t Please” in collaboration with AICA Türkiye and Proje4L / Elgiz Müzesi, and, together with Siemens Healthineers, curated “Algorithms and Plants,” “Algorithms and Animals,” and the “39th DYO Art Awards Exhibition” in Istanbul, Eskişehir, Ankara, and Izmir.

_{The event is free of charge.}

_{The talk is held in Turkish.}

_{Attendance is limited due to seating capacity.}