The Neşet Günal Atelier at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts was not merely an educational hub for its graduates but also functioned as a “collective mind” for artistic and intellectual pursuits. For those curious to see how this collective spirit fostered sensitivity across generations, the “Speaking Like Trees” exhibition at Brieflyart Gallery offers a true realm of discovery.
Curated by art historian Aslı Bora, the exhibition brings together six prominent figures from the atelier: Neş’e Erdok, Hüsnü Koldaş, Kemal İskender, Nedret Sekban, Resul Aytemür, and Ahmet Umur Deniz. Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s famous line, “One does not feel alone among trees; they always stand together,” the show makes visible—through art—the burden and relief of togetherness.
Looking at these works, you sense how the artists make space for one another, much like the interplay of light and sound in a forest. Neş’e Erdok’s figures conveying the fragility of the human soul, Hüsnü Koldaş’s experimental formal explorations, Nedret Sekban’s dramatic figurative language, and Ahmet Umur Deniz’s works blending social memory with contemporary interpretation stand side by side as different echoes of the same atelier.
This group exhibition demonstrates that a generation of artists continues their shared production tradition and reminds us of art’s continuity through a quiet yet powerful language of solidarity.
Exhibition Details:
Title: Speaking Like Trees
Curator: Aslı Bora
Artists: Neş’e Erdok, Hüsnü Koldaş, Kemal İskender, Nedret Sekban, Resul Aytemür, Ahmet Umur Deniz
Venue: Brieflyart Gallery
Dates: Continues until 16 November 2025
