Ali Bilge Akkaya’s fifth solo exhibition Five or Roadmaps of Hidden Imagery, is a compelling continuation of his artistic exploration of architecture through geometry, and the urban spaces. Through his lens, the structures of cities transform into meditative compositions, blending precision with a quiet emotional resonance.
The exhibition’s centerpiece is a collection of black-and-white photographs that span cities as diverse as Granada, Amsterdam and Basel. In these works, Akkaya distills the essence of urban landscapes, reducing buildings to their geometric cores while imbuing them with a strangely soothing quality. The monochromatic palette amplifies the stark interplay of light and shadow, turning each image into a study of form, texture, and perspective.
Two recurring themes from Akkaya’s previous solo exhibitions spill over into this latest body of work. The first is his ongoing fascination with staircases, which he utilizes in two distinct ways: as the primary subject, as seen in Fine Arts Museum, Basel, Switzerland, and as a dynamic compositional tool, subtly dividing and structuring the photograph, as demonstrated in Hong Kong, Modern Art Museum (main picture). The second theme centers on the presence of faceless figures, often captured from behind. These anonymous individuals convey a profound sense of transience, evoking the perpetual motion of people passing each other in fleeting, disconnected moments.
Akkaya’s distinctive use of layering adds depth and complexity to otherwise mundane architectural forms. A prime example of this is Skyscraper, Tel Aviv, Israel, where a photograph of a Tel Aviv skyscraper is divided by the corner of a wall, causing the two sides to subtly face each other.
Through this exhibition, Akkaya reaffirms his position as a master of distilling the poetic potential of urban spaces. His photographs are meditations on the built environment, inviting viewers to reflect on the quiet stories embedded within the cities we inhabit.
See the e-catalogue here.
Alexandra de Cramer
Issue 66, December 2023
Turkey’s Centenary Issue
