In the artworks of Nilhan Sesalan, we witness a constant effort to perceive everything as ‘it is’, along with interpretations of references from archaeology, architecture, literature and nature at the level of a daily life that gradually becomes more indirect.
A deep historical-cultural accumulation underlies the past of her works, associations and stress underlie their present, and an eternal inference and tranquillity mark their future.
In her hands, the themes which range from the human life to the mysteries and chaos of nature transform into the tranquillity of endless associations of an artwork that owns its own freedom; like a dervish who whispers rich, deep, confident and grand thoughts.
Observing Sesalan’s artworks which are displayed in various collections, parks and museums, it can be said that she is one of the representatives of lyrical abstraction.
2017 Founder of Tesisart Artist Initiative
b.1968 / Istanbul, Turkey
Education
1996 Master of Art Degree, Mimar Sinan University Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture, Istanbul, Turkey
1991 BA, Mimar Sinan University Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture, Istanbul, Turkey
Solo Exhibitions
2020 Farah Faza, Evliyagil Dolapdere, Istanbul Turkey
2017 Midnight in Istanbul, Art On İstanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
2016 Atelier, Uniq Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 Full of Words II, Narart Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2010 Full of Words, Galatea Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 Sweet Dreams, Dolmabahçe Palace Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2005 Polen Age, Artisan Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2004 Leaf Trees, Elne, France
1998 Visual Centre, Oulu, Finland
Group Exhibitions
2022- ‘Burden’ with Oddyseas Tousinidis, Giorgos Taksidis, 4’th Istanbul Triennale
2022-2021 Stones Under the Green Shadow, India
2021 4x4 Tesis Art, İstanbul, Turkey
2020 Akaretler Art Week,Merkür Gallery,İstanbul
2019 Tesis Art, Istanbul , Turkey
2019 Evliyagil Dolapdere Gallery,Istanbul,Turkey
2019 ‘Together’, Gallery Kunst Schaefer, Germany
2018 99 Square, Arton Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2016 Biennale Arte Dolomiti, Italy
2014 Small is Beautiful, KUAD Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2012 Terrace Exhibitions, Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 Classic, Daire Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
1998 Women’s Library, Istanbul, Turkey
1997 Elhamra Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
1997 The Other, Contemporary arts exhibition, Antrepo, Istanbul, Turkey
1991 Group Exhibition, Kassel, Germany
Art Fair Participation
2023 Contemporary İstanbul, Krank Art Gallery İstanbul, Turkey
2018 Istanbul Art Fair, Asfalt Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2018 Contemporary Istanbul, Art On Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 Contemporary İstanbul, Art On İstanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
2016 Contemporary İstanbul, Art On İstanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
2015 Contemporary Istanbul, Kuad Gallery,Istanbul, Turkey
Monument
2019 Monument for Homeland, stone and bronze, Bursa, Turkey
2019 Monument for Migration, stone and bronze, Bursa,Turkey
2016 All Waters of the Earth Interwine, Bronze and Stone, Germany
2010 Vipassana , Bronze, India.
Symposiums
2023 Artifex Sculpture Biennale Spain
2023 Odemira Sculpture Symposium Portugal
2023 Musandam Sculpture Forum Omman
2023 Sohar Sculpture Camp, Omman
2023 Tuwaiq Sculpture, Riyad, Saudi Arabia
2022 Buyukcekmece İnternational Stone Sculpture Symposium, Istanbul
2021 Marbel Peak International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Greece
2021 24. Festival des Heures Romantiques, France
2019 International Stone Sculpture Symposium Spaine
2018 International wood sculpture Symposium Izmit, Turkey
2017 International Wood Sculpture Black Forest, Germany
2017 Land of Sculptors, Nicosia , Cyprus
2016 Korca Sculpture Park, Albania
2015 International Marble Sculpture Symposium,Marmara Island, Turkey
2012 I. International The Spirit of Balkan’s Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey
2011 Çumra-Çatalhöyük Stone Sculpture Symposium, (Art Director), Turkey
2011 Bandırma International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey
2010 Vadodara International Bronze Sculpture Symposium, India
2009 Unquillo International Wood Sculpture Symposium, Cordoba, Argentina
2008 1st Didyma International Stone Sculpture Symposium, (Art Director), Turkey
2007 Hereke International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Hereke, Turkey
2007 Istanbul Technical University, Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey
2006 European Bridges Sculpture Workshop/Bucharest, Romania
2006 Ankara International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey
2002 Mersin International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey
2002 Maltepe. International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey
1999 Samothrace International Plastic Arts Symposium, Greece
1998 Fujino, International Plastic Arts Symposium, Japan
1996 Bothnia Ice Cape-International Ice Sculpture Symposium, Oulu, Finland
Movie
2016 61 Days , motion picture, art consultant
2011 The Ramp, Flying Over the Snow, art director and co producer with Turkish Ministry of Culture
Book
2018 Yellow