Abstract Photography Exhibition at ESOGÜ

The opening of the ‘Look(ing) See Me’ Abstract Photography Exhibition, held within the scope of the Neuroaesthetics and Photography course of the Faculty of Arts and Design at Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGÜ) for the 2023-2024 Spring Semester, has taken place.

The exhibition, open to art lovers in the foyer area of the Red Hall at Taşbaşı Cultural Center, featured 83 works by 43 artists. The invitation for the exhibition was designed by Merve Atsay and the poster by Ayşenur Şenol.

The Neuroaesthetics and Photography course has been offered for the first time in Turkey at the Department of Visual Communication Design of ESOGÜ’s Faculty of Arts and Design. The course was conducted by Lecturer Safiye Buluş. The artists whose works were featured in the exhibition were the first students of this course.

During the opening of the exhibition, Lecturer Safiye Buluş stated, “The discipline of neuroaesthetics is concerned with how art is perceived in the brain. In this sense, photographs are among the most powerful stimuli. A photograph conveys a lot without needing anything else. Abstract photographs liberate both the artist and the viewer (audience). They force the viewer to think and produce meaning to reveal the meaning beyond what is visible. Thus, the viewer becomes involved in the process of meaning production, allowing the artwork to continue existing with new meanings. The fundamental purpose of this exhibition is expressed with ‘Look(ing) See Me’.”

Buluş emphasized that by drawing attention to the concepts of looking and seeing, the viewer is one of the three essential elements of art.

Art enthusiasts who visited the exhibition expressed that they encountered unusual photographs and found the presentation quite impressive. The manifestos placed in reverse next to each work were intended to be read by the viewers after they produced meaning. Buluş commented on this situation, stating, “Everyone has a different perspective. In this respect, what those looking at the same photograph see and feel is important to us. This way of exhibiting would encourage the viewer to think more.”

After Eskişehir, the abstract photography exhibition is planned to meet art lovers in Istanbul, Zonguldak, and Bilecik.