Begüm Malkoçlar
Begum (b. 1999) is a Turkish artist working between Istanbul and London. Her art explores the intrinsic relationship between reality and fiction, reflecting the fluid and dynamic nature of memory. Engaging deeply with her cultural heritage, she examines how memories are shaped and transformed through a humanistic and intuitive lens.
In her practice, Begum navigates fundamental themes of existence, investigating the formation of personal and cultural identities and the connections that bind humanity to nature. To bridge the past and present, she employs a diverse array of media, including analog and digital film, hand-drawn and digitally-created illustrations, embroidery, collages, and writing. Her work embodies a playful, childlike spirit, intertwining fiction and non-fiction in a theatrical restaging of narratives.
As a contemporary artist, Begum actively seeks to uncover and preserve the past, embracing its vast possibilities while remaining open to new interpretations as her practice evolves. To her, the past is a mystery to be unraveled—one that requires the slow weaving of a tapestry across time and space, reinventing the unknowns through creative storytelling. In this process, she aims to construct a personal archive that examines expressions of memory—dreams, myths, and stories—developing an alternative historical perspective on human experience and deepening her understanding of the self.
Begum Malkoclar holds a BA from Pratt Institute in New York City and a Master’s in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art. She has participated in various group exhibitions in New York City, London and Istanbul.
Exhibitions, Residencies & Workshops
2025
Spring Open Studios, Koppel Heights, London
Pale Blue Dot, Solo Show, Büyükdere35 Gallery, Istanbul
2024
Azulejos de Bedoo, FOOTPRINT, Zaratan Gallery, Lisbon
Once there was, Once there wasn’t, Zaratan Gallery, Lisbon
The Reason for All I.L.Y, BASE 2024, Istanbul
Artist in Residency, Zaratan, Lisbon, Portugual
Midday Car Crash In The Middle Of The Bosphorus Bridge, Longlisted Spring Exhibition, The Homiens Art Prize, USA
Aquatic Lunacy, Finalist, Emerging Artist Exhibiton, Art Collide, USA
Artist Residency, 484 Urban Garden x Büyükdere35 Gallery, Istanbul
2023
The Boulevard of Lost Faces, Flouze Art Fundraiser for Morocco, Royal Georges, London
Creative Writing Workshop with Mario Levi, BuART, Istanbul
The Reason For All, I.L.Y, Prince Charles Cinema, Royal College of Arts Film Screening, London
The Reason For All, I.L.Y, Royal College of Arts Degree Show, RCA2023, London
The Patterns of Our Childhood, Beyond Surface, Tate Modern Lates, London
Creative Writing Workshop with Murat Gülsoy, BUYEM, Istanbul
2021
Anane, Pratt Institute Film and Video Undergraduate Degree Show, New York City
Creative Writing and Improvisation Workshop with Kemal Hamamcioglu, Craft Theater Company, Istanbul
2020
The Case of Object Unspecified 152, Junior Year Film Screening, Pratt Institute , New York City
The Case of Object Unspecified 152, Trinity Film Festival, Audience Choice Awards, New York City
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