Economist instructor, who has represented our country abroad on different continents, has been the voice of multiculturalism and inclusivity on five continents, has participated alongside excavation teams during various artistic, historical, and archaeological excavations both in different continents and in Turkey, experiencing once again the value of patience and effort during excavations, versatile world traveler artist (Painting, Theater, Dance, Drama, Choreography, Literature, Poetry), Hicran Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, under the curatorship of Yeser Art Design Yeşer Yelmez, attended the 7th solo exhibition of the painter Şerife Altunbaş titled “Cultural Layers” in the foyer area of ​​Pera Palace Hotel Galata prior to the opening reception and cocktail organized for special guests.

During the cocktail, Yorgancıoğlu shared the stories of Agatha Christie’s Pera Palace tales and Christie’s journey to archaeological excavations in Turkey, including Antakya, and the story of her mysterious book containing the word Mesopotamia, through conversations established among the artists. While narrating the story, Artist Şerife Altunbaş also mentioned the effects of the sorrow caused by the February 6 earthquake alongside the inspiration provided by her works. When I look at this exhibition, I observe the back rooms of history, its kitchen, the trunk rooms, and the attic. I traverse through mounds. I journey from civilization to civilization within the double-headed lion figures, I return, recalling my expeditions to rock-cut tombs. Sometimes, I see treasure. I see a hidden treasure. Looking at the artworks, “I see the myriad forms of art, a thousand and one nights of tales being told.”

Traveling with elephants to their orphanages in Asia and Africa worldwide, participating in activities including swimming with elephants in rivers, and supporting various campaigns to prevent elephant poaching (in Asia and Africa), such as in Taylan Sri Lanka Africa Malaysia, Şerife Altunbaş’s story regarding the Elephant painting in her exhibition representing the convergence of civilizations is also a subject of curiosity.

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s various oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, sized 70x, have been featured in various auctions after 2004-2005 at Pera Palace Hotel, and her works have appeared in Librairie de Pera catalogs. Yorgancioglu, who is also an art collector, gifted the artworks she acquired at auctions to those who purchased her paintings from abroad (USA, France). She mentioned that she still possesses the Ekrem Kadak painting, which she acquired for the highest price at the 2004 Pera Palace auction, and carefully preserves it. In her exhibitions, where she always includes Agatha Christie’s stories about Pera Palace and its disappearance, along with her teachings and conferences, and the workshops she conducts, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu said regarding Şerife Altunbaş’s works, “As if conducting an archaeological excavation under the sun’s rays in the depths of history with the challenging effort, she intertwines the layers of different civilizations and cultures.”

Reflecting on the rooted aesthetic culture excavation connecting the Asian continent to Europe throughout the ages, including the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, amidst the anniversary of the painful earthquake that affected 11 provinces referred to as the ‘disaster of the century’, one can think that the layers of history are built upon earthquake after earthquake, the artist’s efforts, which change and transform our emotions by intertwining the enthusiasm and sorrow of art simultaneously, are extremely valuable. I can say more after a profound and layered cultural art conversation.

Selections from short art conversations: Following Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s words, “Pera Palace must surely want these works, the painting right in front of us seems to have no intention of leaving the hotel. It’s as if it will stay here forever, deeply rooted.” After these words, Şerife Altunbaş’s remark was also noteworthy and left a lasting impression: “Well, the name of that painting is already ‘Pera’. Look, the colors, motifs, beams, they all reflect Pera.”

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu and Pera Palace:

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s various oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, sized 70x, were featured in various auctions after 2004-2005 at Pera Palace Hotel and appeared in Librairie Pera catalogs. Yorgancioglu, who is also an art collector, gifted the artworks she acquired at auctions to those who purchased her paintings from abroad (USA, France). She mentioned that she still possesses the Ekrem Kadak painting, which she acquired for the highest price at the 2004 Pera Palace auction, and carefully preserves it. In her exhibitions, where she always includes Agatha Christie’s stories about Pera Palace and its disappearance, along with her teachings and conferences, and the workshops she conducts, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu said regarding Şerife Altunbaş’s works, “As if conducting an archaeological excavation under the sun’s rays in the depths of history with the challenging effort, she intertwines the layers of different civilizations and cultures.”

The exhibition at Pera Palace Hotel Galata Foyer starts today and can be visited every day except Sundays until March 5, from 13:00 to 19:00.

Among the beautiful artworks that delve into the depths of history, Şerife Altınbaş’s pieces reflecting the culture and cultural diversity of ancient civilizations living on Anatolian lands, reinterpret stone reliefs, wall frescoes, mosaics, iconography, and symbols belonging to the Huns, Seljuk Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, and Ottoman Empire with her unique style. Alongside short art conversations, Altunbaş and Yorgancıoğlu will also conduct a Cigdem Yorgancioglu Chi Ci Talks – Art-Chi art conversation in the coming days.