The Bozlu Art Project Mongeri Building is preparing to host the Can Göknil Retrospective to take place between the 13th of November 2018 and the 23rd of March 2019. A comprehensive book on the artist’s exhibitions and philosophy shaped throughout her artistic career starting in the U.S. up to present is to accompany this exhibit.
Her interest in art emerging during lessons in Seniye Fenmen’s studio in her years at the Arnavutköy American College for Girls brought the artist to later pursue dreams of studying art in the United States. After receiving her B.A. at Knox College and her M.A. at the City College of New York, she found the opportunity to hold exhibitions in New York’s prominent galleries. Returning to Turkey in 1974 after four exhibits in the U.S., Can Göknil continued displaying her works in solo exhibits she held in the country’s many leading galleries including Melda Kaptana Art Gallery, Gallery Baraz, Urart Art Gallery, Garanti Art Gallery, Yapı Kredi Kazım Taşkent Art Gallery, Milli Reasürans Art Gallery, PG Art Gallery, Gallery Selvin and Gallery Apel. Every one of her exhibits may be said to constitute a conceptually coherent whole organized around a specific subject. Her exhibition concepts are most often based on Anatolian myths, legends and stories. What is definitive of Göknil’s art is its recreation of ancient stories through the eyes of an artist. She paints a cheerful, smiling and happy world. Her art, however, is not limited to canvas painting. She commands an extensive creative range from three-dimensional works to book illustrations. Her story books recently issued by Can Publishing are proof that she also merits mention in her capacity as a writer.
The retrospective of multifaceted artist Can Göknil shall meet with art lovers from the 13th of November 2018 to 23rd of March 2019 in Şişli’s historic Mongeri Building, home to the Bozlu Art Project collection as well as artistic & research-related activities. The book titled “Can Göknil, Life and Art”, written by Oğuz Erten after 2 years of interviews with Can Göknil as well as surveys of publications
and newspapers, forms the main trajectory of the retrospective exhibit. This book sets out to convey the productivity marking the span of Can Göknil’s life – one devoted in all ways possible to creativity, inventiveness and production. Drawing attention to the importance of monographic studies to be carried out with regards to certain artists that are cornerstones in Turkey’s art history, it reaches out to its readers as a comprehensive endeavour on a truly remarkable artist who remains prolific, not only with her works of art but also as a writer.
About 100 of her works are featured in this exhibition on the life and art of Can Göknil, a figure active and productive in the Turkish art scene ever since the 1970s. Set to take place from 13 November 2018 to 23 March 2019, the exhibition brings to art audiences a broad selection of the artist’s works from her early years up to the present.