The Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) Art Gallery has opened its doors to artist Günsu Saraçoğlu’s solo exhibition titled “Slow Down Life / Hayatı Yavaşlat,” which stands as a response to the pace of modern life. Shaped around the metaphor of the snail and the golden ratio, the works invite viewers to move beyond chaos and discover their own inner rhythm.

The Aesthetics of Slowness with 26 Works

The exhibition, which will remain open to visitors until March 4, was inaugurated with a ceremony and presented to art lovers. A total of 26 works, created on canvas and paper using charcoal and acrylic techniques, call for a conscious slowing down in contrast to the speed of modern life.

Among those attending the opening were MTSO Assembly President Hamit İzol, President of the İçel Art Club Ali Gök, and numerous art enthusiasts.

The Snail Metaphor and the Golden Ratio

Speaking at the opening, artist Günsu Saraçoğlu emphasized that the foundation of her collection addresses slowness and simplification as forms of resistance and purification. Stating that she places the snail metaphor at the center of her works, Saraçoğlu noted that she aims to make visible the spiral that individuals form with their own rhythm and inner transformation.

The artist explained that the shell form shaped by the golden ratio symbolizes the boundary individuals place between themselves and chaos, as well as the need to withdraw into their essence. She added that the layered structures reminiscent of the DNA spiral carry the traces of time and life.

“This exhibition is not an escape, but a journey”

Saraçoğlu shared her thoughts on the exhibition with the following words:

“This exhibition is not an escape, but a journey. When a person returns to their own center, they weave their shell with the delicate touches of time. Slowness is not a deficiency; it is a chosen form of resistance. The snail’s shell reminds me that we need to create space not outwardly, but within our own inner world. Each work invites the viewer into their own spiral; it enables us to rediscover ourselves in silence. The most valuable things are those that grow the slowest: nature, memory, and a person’s return to themselves. ‘Slow Down Life / Hayatı Yavaşlat’ reminds us to multiply by pausing and to deepen by turning inward.”

Thanking the MTSO Art Gallery for hosting her exhibition, the artist invited all art lovers to take part in this inner exploration.

“Slow Down Life / Hayatı Yavaşlat” can be visited at the MTSO Art Gallery until March 4, 2026.