Dirimart

Dirimart is honoured to present the dynamic works of Cihan Öncü at SPARK 2025 with his compelling Untitled series. The selection comprises photographs that represent his attachment to the depth of narrative and an innovative way of approaching still-life composition, which looks abstract at first sight, through colourful, formal, and story-telling explorations. Renowned for seamlessly integrating visual and textual elements, Öncü invites the viewer to introspection, where every image resonates with layers of cultural and emotional meaning. His commitment to traditional darkroom colour-printing techniques imbues his work with sensory richness, giving each a unique, tactile quality. In the photograph series, colour transcends its visual role, serving as a bridge to comprehend reality’s transient and often elusive nature. The Untitled imbue a dynamic sense of movement and redefine traditional still-life photography. Unlike traditional still-life photography, Öncü’s compositions evolve as he experiments with his subjects—boiling flowers, blending leaves, and manipulating the viscosities of oozing fluids. This fluid nature generates tension between the recognisable and the abstract, pushing viewers to self-consciously consider the arresting beauty within each frame, the essentially transient one. The essence of Öncü’s work is rooted in his interest in colour and texture. The search for the richest hues and sensitivity to the playing of textures give his photographs their distinct voice. Through this kind of dynamic composition, Öncü steps over the conventional borders of photography and creates a harmonious symphony of colours, emotions, and cultural connections.

Cihan Öncü’s artistic journey focuses on capturing the essence of everyday life through vibrant colours and cultivating profound connections between his viewers and his work. His innovative approach seamlessly integrates visual art with textual elements, enriching the depth and impact of his projects and inviting viewers to embark on a profound narrative exploration. Committed to multifaceted storytelling, Öncü utilises photography to convey the richness of human experiences, promoting cultural preservation and understanding. With an unwavering passion for experimenting with colour printing in the darkroom, he deftly weaves his unique perspective into each photograph, offering a captivating sensory experience. Cihan Öncü (b.1986, Adıyaman) graduated from Dokuz Eylül University’s Primary School Teacher Education Programme in 2010. His career took off in the realm of fashion photography. Since 2017, Öncü has been crafting a diverse portfolio of photography that serves as a window into his inner world, characterised by a straightforward visual aesthetic. His solo exhibitions include Motus, Dirimart Pera, Istanbul (2024), Cihan Öncü, Dirimart Pera, Istanbul (2022) and Dream and Diversions, Dirimart X Ritmo Zeytino, Bodrum (2021). Among his group exhibitions are Never Never Land (online exhibition), Vortic Art (2022); All Else Is Far (curator Ceren Erdem), Dirimart Dolapdere, Istanbul (2021); Mamut Art Project, Istanbul (2020) and Vogel Art, Berlin (2019). Cihan Öncü currently lives and works in Istanbul.

Celebrating its 22nd year in 2024, Dirimart is more focused than ever on challenging and revitalising the existing gallery model in Istanbul. Founded in 2002 by Hazer Özil with the intent of exhibiting established and emerging artists both from Turkey and around the world in a context conducive to critical dialogue and cross-pollination, the pivotal concern of the gallery’s program is individual and regional differences while fostering cosmopolitanism and collaboration. Dirimart cultivates a program premised on conceptualism, political resistance and intellectual rigour. Located in two distinct locations in Beyoğlu, Dolapdere and Pera, the gallery divides its program between established artists, such as Ayşe Erkmen, İnci Eviner, Canan Tolon, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Sarah Morris, Anselm Reyle, Jorinde Voigt, Tomokazu Matsuyama, and Karin Kneffel and emerging artists, such as Çiğdem Aky, Çağla Ulusoy, Berke Yazıcıoğlu, and Ebru Duruman. The gallery, through Dirimart and RES Publications (est. 2007), also continues its well-established series of catalogues, artist books and books on art theory.