Merve Özaslan

Merve Özaslan has already amazed us with her naive collages inspired by nature. Meeting her has been overdue. Now, it’s time to question our position in nature and listen to the story behind Merve’s work from her.

What is the origin of your work? What would you say if we told you that you have passion for a little bit of romance and a little bit of vintage?

My work totally originates from questioning. I research about the harmony between nature and human beings, and our belonging to nature. We can easily say I have passion for things that have a vintage sense, however the romantic side only comes though vintage pictures.

How would you explain “Natural Act,” which went viral, to someone who’s never seen it?

I would say Natural Act is a collage series consisting of 2 surfaces – different from those common multi partial collages – that complete one another through a plain narrative, focusing on nature.

“It makes a great difference for the artists to use social media effectively.”

What’s your comment on the relationship between social media and contemporary art?

I think social media contributes to contemporary art a lot. You can instantly communicate with an artist on the other side of the world. There are great advantages for the artist as well because with one click, you can show your work to so many people and get reactions immediately. It makes a great difference for the artists to use social media effectively.

What is the most inspirational era for you?

The pictures in the Natural Act series generally vary from the 40’s to the 50’s. The idea for this series came to me while going through era photos because these periods are those when society was in the act of becoming mechanized. So it was an era completely overlapping with my main idea. As a lover of history, all eras inspire me but my favourite is definitely the baroque era. In the future, I am going to make a series about it.
“Çağdaş sanatla birlikte gelen değişimler geleneksel sanat formlarını oldukça sarstı.”

“Changes due to contemporary art shook traditional art forms considerably.”

As collage work gain more value, how would you define collage as a form of art?

My approach to the subject is extremely liberal. Changes due to contemporary art shook traditional art forms considerably. In my opinion, the artists should be telling their story with the most correct method and use the material they want as effectively as they can. This can be a collage or a sculpture, or a painting etc. Years ago, I worked on another nature and human themed collection with ceramics and there wasn’t a better material for that project. Now, I’m continuing with collage work. Collage in itself is also divided to analog and digital, and I use both. In contemporary art there is an endless advantage considering the materials available. Collage is just one of them.

Which artists inspire you the most?

Toulouse Lautrec and Gustav Klimt. As for contemporary art Andy Warhol. Also, Nic Courdy and Euge- nia Loli are collage artists I like to follow.

What’s next for you? Could you tell us about your upcoming project’s?

Next up are new collage work and other new series. After I complete several more series, I want to make an exhibition. There are ongoing conceptual projects for book and album covers. I want to add some pieces to Natural Act series, then I will begin to work for the next series.