Solo Show “Pale Blue Dot” @Büyükdere35 Gallery, Istanbul
19.03-05.04
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Büyükdere35 is pleased to announce Begüm Malkoçlar’s first solo exhibition, Pale Blue Dot. Inspired by Carl Sagan’s concept of the same name, Pale Blue Dot features works created by the artist during her four-month residency as part of the 484 Urban Garden Artist Program.
The famous photograph captured by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990 shows Earth as a faint speck in the vast expanse of the universe. In this image, Sagan emphasizes the impermanence of human existence, the shared fate of humanity, and the relativity of time and space. Building on this concept, the exhibiting work questions the instinctive connections humans form with time and space, our ties to the archaic past, and the various channels through which we access collective memory.
Malkoçlar's artistic practice, which involves cutting paper, tying threads, and assembling various pieces, aims to establish a unified structure, reflecting a journey that transitions from individual parts to a complete entity. Each piece takes shape around the concept of observing the flow of life, the unstoppable movement of nature, the role of chance, and the exploration of stories interwoven through time. Her compositions bring together colors, textures, and materials in a way that is both random and intentional, aiming to evoke the richness, fragility, and uniqueness of coming into existence. The accidental, chaotic yet powerful structure of our pale blue planet is reconstructed throughout Begüm’s work; she strives to explore, narrate, and visualize humanity’s place within this vast wholeness.
Malkoçlar approaches the relationship between part and whole as an abstract process, exploring the mystery of being through materials. The contrasts she often encounters in her work layer upon one another, with each collage existing as both simple and complex, both fragile and strong, ultimately striving for balance within itself.
Pale Blue Dot delves into the connections humans form with their past, their historical and biological roots, while analyzing the factors that shape identity and the mystery of existence through a range of materials. This exhibition invites viewers to trace the invisible threads that connect life and nature, uncover the stories hidden within the most ordinary beings, and awaken an awareness of presence that allows us to become a part of those stories.
mixed media and embroidery on paper
71 x 48 cm
Blue Dots Series #1-2-3
mixed media
45x45cm
“The title of my first solo exhibition, Pale Blue Dot, is no coincidence. From millions of light-years away, our lives dissolve into a faint blue speck—indistinguishable, insignificant, barely there. A fragile, fleeting presence, placed by sheer chance in the vast expanse of time and space. And yet, for those who live on this dot, with everything it holds, it is everything.
As I prepared for this exhibition, I kept asking myself: How does one grasp this feeling? Where do I begin? How can I translate my connection to this piece of earth beneath my feet, using nothing more than a handful of paper? And in the weight of the present moment, as the people beside me, around me, and far away from me face their own struggles—how do I even attempt this.
Now, a year later, I stand before the world I have gathered within these four empty walls. And more than anything, I take comfort in seeing how it has taken my shape—when it could have been this, that, or something else entirely. Because to be yourself, to chase what you believe in against all odds, to resist a world heavy with darkness, uncertainty, and restless souls—to resist through art—is a relentless struggle. But as long as we exist on this tiny blue dot, this struggle must and will continue.”
As I prepared for this exhibition, I kept asking myself: How does one grasp this feeling? Where do I begin? How can I translate my connection to this piece of earth beneath my feet, using nothing more than a handful of paper? And in the weight of the present moment, as the people beside me, around me, and far away from me face their own struggles—how do I even attempt this.
Now, a year later, I stand before the world I have gathered within these four empty walls. And more than anything, I take comfort in seeing how it has taken my shape—when it could have been this, that, or something else entirely. Because to be yourself, to chase what you believe in against all odds, to resist a world heavy with darkness, uncertainty, and restless souls—to resist through art—is a relentless struggle. But as long as we exist on this tiny blue dot, this struggle must and will continue.”
Just before waking up
mixed media on paper with printed wallpaper
103 x 72 cm
Pieces of water
mixed media installation
150x150cm
Delicate Coincidences
mixed media on paper
71 x 61 cm
