Turkish-Taiwanese artist Melek Anqi (高安琪) showcased her popular Asian-inspired “Hiromita” character for the first time in Turkey at the ARTAnkara Contemporary Fair. At the fair which was held for the 9th time recently, the works of hundreds of artists from more than 40 countries were exhibited with the contribution of local and international galleries.
The ARTAnkara fair had the motto “We will heal with science and art” this year referring to the devastating earthquakes experienced by Turkish people and aimed to increase morale in Turkish society. The fair attracted great interest from art lovers in Turkey. The popular and beloved Hiromita character created by Melek Anqi made its debut in Turkey at the fair. South Korean AB Gallery’s Hiromita exhibit at the fair featured the wild but adorable tile cat of Melek Anqi that has already captured the hearts of art enthusiasts around the world.
Visiting the fair, Taiwan’s Ankara Representative Volkan Chih-yang Huang, Korean Ambassador Won IK LEE, Korean Cultural Center GM Kee- houng PARK, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz listened to the story of Hiromita from Melek Anqi and expressed their pleasure to meet Hiromita.
The ARTAnkara fair attracted hundreds of artists from over 40 countries, which signifies the importance of contemporary art in this part of the world. Hiromita’s journey from Taipei to Turkey confirms the universality of art and the value of cross-cultural exchange, which is essential for a more tolerant and accepting world.
Hiromita character is inspired by the artist’s experiences in Asian culture especially her childhood in Taiwan. While learning Chinese in Taipei when she was 7 years old, the artist felt connected with the lively characters in comic books. Furthermore, Asian rooftop cat figurines shaped the story of Hiromita. These traditional sculptures, called “Tiger on the Roof”, are said to eat ghosts and bring good fortune to households. Melek Anqi transformed this folklore and created a tiger-spirited cat that eats away the inner void in our modern lives with her terrifying mouth and teeth and gives back love (connection). Through her use of bold colors, expressive brushstrokes, and unexpected materials, Melek Anqi tries to capture a journey of self-acceptance and courage through her character Hiromita. With an unchanging and wild facial expression in contrast with the everchanging materials used in the paintings, Hiromita celebrates uniqueness and inspires self-belonging by encouraging viewers to find themselves and avoid fitting in, embracing differences.
Melek Anqi’s Hiromita character is considered a refreshing addition to the contemporary art world, with its unique style and message of self-acceptance. The colorful and entertaining character has captured the hearts of art lovers in the USA, metaverse, Taiwan and now in Turkey. Its wild expression and childlike connotation create a relatable yet fun-loving persona that can strike a chord with people of all ages.
The wild but cute tile cat, inspired by Asian rooftop cat sculptures and comics, attracted art lovers of all ages at the fair with its playful colors and expressive face. Hiromita’s unique and charming character has caught the attention of attendees at the fair, from university students to older art lovers, and even young children. Melek Anqi’s creation stood out for its striking facial expressions and playful personality, which carries powerful messages of courage and self-acceptance.
The success of the Hiromita at the fair further highlights the importance and global interest in contemporary art. The presence of foreign artists at such fairs promotes cultural exchange and provides art lovers with an opportunity to experience diverse new works that infuse different cultural contexts, as is the case with Hiromita. Hiromita exhibition attests to the invaluable role that contemporary art can play in broadening viewpoints, promoting understanding and collaboration between diverse cultures, and the significance of art fairs as essential spaces for cross-cultural expression, appreciation, and conversation.
The artist Melek Anqi stated that “Through my Hiromita series, artist I hope to inspire hope, courage, and self-acceptance in all who experience it. My art is a reminder that our differences are what make us unique and beautiful, and that by embracing these differences, we can find true belonging in ourselves and in our relationships with others.”
Melek Anqi, who is known for her physi-digital abstract paintings and Hiromita character, continues to exhibit her works around the world and has gained international recognition for her collaboration with CoolWallet by creating “Coolwallet x HIROMITA by Melek Anqi” collection at the beginning of 2023. A special Hiromita exhibition will be held at Deppo29 Art Gallery in Ankara from April 27 to May 24. Furthermore, the artist will exhibit a special selection of Hiromita paintings at the 18th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, the leading art fair in Turkey, under AB Gallery Korea in September. In 2024 a series of Hiromita exhibitions are planned to take place in Korea, starting from Seoul.
About ARTAnkara Contemporary Art Fair:
ARTANKARA is an international contemporary art fair and a platform to strengthen and develop art environment and art market of the region and neighboring countries. The 9th edition of the fair took place in March 2023 at ATO Congresium. Works of Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Video and Digital Art, Installations and many other forms of artistic expression, the result of a careful selection by the Selection Committee, were presented at the fair.
ARTANKARA along with gathering a significantly enhanced list of emerging and established galleries, artists, art-lovers and art-collectors from Turkey and abroad, endeavors to re-make Ankara ‘’the capital of art as well’’, as it used to be upon foundation of the Republic of Türkiye
2019 ArtAnkara
About Melek Anqi
Melek Anqi (高安琪) is a contemporary artist of Turkish-Taiwanese descent, known for her vibrant mixed media paintings and digital art , which she synthesizes Asian culture and the artist’s personal mythology. Melek Anqi created the Asian-inspired character, Hiromita. The artist received her graduate degree at Yale University and further studied fashion design and illustration. Melek Anqi offers a unique and inspiring journey of self-discovery through Hiromita’s character, captured in bold colors and imaginative materials. Experimenting with a variety of traditional and digital techniques Melek Anqi created a distinct style that is visually striking with elements of Asian culture and her own personal mythology. Her artwork has recently been showcased in various exhibitions and fairs internationally, including in New York and Istanbul.
Melek Anqi’s character Hiromita is a popular creation that has brought the artist international recognition. The character appears in various forms in Melek Anqi’s artwork, including mixed media paintings, digital art and NFTs. At the beginning of 2023, Taiwanese company CoolBitX, a leader in the crypto assets wallet industry, announced its Web3 brand collaboration with Melek Anqi for the release of the “CoolWallet x HIROMITA by Melek Anqi” NFT collection as part of their launch of CoolWallet HOT, a new module in their CoolWallet app.
(More info about the collaboration: https://www.prweb.com/releases/2023/1/prweb19121021.htm )
