The sculptor Ekber Sürsal, who carries different reflections of the time to his works, has a globetrotter mood in the world of design. Sürsal leaves the message he wants to give in his work to the free interpretation of individuals who touch or browse his work, thus establishing a multi-faceted communication process. Sürsal created a unique, sincere, and sustainable atmosphere in his workshop in İdealtepe, İstanbul. He designs special sculptures, lamps, rings and earrings, accessories and bags from wooden pieces that wash the shore, plastic materials that cannot be dissolved in nature, and various types of waste materials.
Focuses on various material groups
Sculptor Ekber Sürsal is one of our prominent artists with his versatile personality. Sürsal, who participated in various sculpture workshops at Wichita State University in the USA, graduated from Anadolu University Faculty of Fine Arts Sculpture Department in 1994. Serving in the advertising sector between 1997-2001 and in the publishing sector between 2001-2007, Sürsal worked as a re-touch artist in the production area. Sürsal focused on her graduate education after bringing her professional experience to a certain dimension and continued her 'Art Theory and Criticism Graduate Program' in Işık University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Art Science between 2009-2010. Within the program, he took painting lessons from Prof. Halil Akdeniz and sculpture lessons from Assistant Professor Bülent Çınar. He completed his master's thesis on the subject of "An Analogy for the Deformation Principle in the Context of Being and Time" of El Greco and Francis Bacon. Sürsal, who took place with his exhibition 'Timeless' at Galeri+ Selvin İstanbul in January 2019, is currently preparing a different kind of lamp exhibition. Ekber Sürsal, who designs unique objects by using materials that are sustainable and will not dissolve in nature, makes a different reference to sustainability with different material groups that can be used in all areas of life.
“Works must explain themselves”
Ekber Sürsal says that he has been working together for 3 years in Gökhan Ercan's sculpture workshop, and for the last 4 years, he has turned to his own works in his studio in İdealtepe, İstanbul. Ekber Sürsal proceeds by combining paper and polyester in his sculpture works. Emphasizing that polyester and plastic derivative materials cannot dissolve in nature, Sürsal said, “Plastic is a material used in all areas of life... I combine plastic, wood, and paper to create a contrast. Plastic is man-made; wood is a natural material… I create an eclectic structure by reconciling these materials and I am researching how I can combine different material groups in harmony. I use pigments. I also attach importance to light transmittance and transparency in my designs. This creates a different effect. I have been working on this concept for 7 years. Concepts such as light, shadow, space, and depth form the basis of sculpture work. By bringing together different materials and instruments, I want to ask people a question. During my exhibitions, the audience comes and asks me questions. They should ask these questions not to me, but to the work done. I observe whether there is a relationship between the work and the audience. So instead of explaining my work, I want my work to connect with people, create interaction by asking the audience questions and explaining itself. I refer to time in my works. This is what I have been trying to analyze, time…"
Getting ready for the lamp exhibition
While preparing for the Timeless exhibition at the point of forming, focusing on unique lamp designs by combining various material groups such as wood, plastic, epoxy and metal (bronze-copper-brass), craft paper, cardboard, Ekber Sürsal will exhibit his collection of lamp designs in October 2020. Sürsal, using wood that wash the shore in lamp designs, thinks that each material comes with a story. He finds these kinds of materials in nature and integrates them with materials such as plastic and concrete produced by man and gives a new form to the lamp concept. Sürsal, which makes the material sustainable by bringing it to a compromising line, invests in the same mindset and designs different accessories such as rings, pendants, brooches, earrings and bags. He sells these material groups in a friend's shop in Bozcaada. Ekber Sürsal, who turned to different bag models in line with the same concept, said, "The bag models I made with PVC and cardboard combinations are also highly appreciated."
Photo / Video Gallery
