Serap, Mirage - Murat Germen
The exhibition “Serap | Mirage” explores the interaction between clarity and ambiguity, focusing on the fleeting tension between what is recognizable and what is not — in other words, what you see may not be what you find. As one moves closer to the image, perception shifts. The mirage emerges in perception, while meaning dissolves in uncertainty.
At the core of this exhibition lies the weave, a structure that represents both the simplicity of modernist order and the fragmentation of contemporary existence. “The square mosaicking process I use is directly inspired by the grid pattern of the tiles covering the walls of Maçka Art Gallery — a design that is at once directive and restrictive,” says Murat Germen, who adopts a pixelated, mosaic-like aesthetic to question how we construct and deconstruct meaning. Drawing inspiration from the interplay between optical and conceptual resolution, he invites viewers to reflect on the spaces between what is seen and what is imagined.
The exhibition is accompanied by a sonic installation designed by Selin Arslan, titled “Aks-i Serap”, composed of cyclical and repetitive layers of sound inspired by the order and chaos of the city. This meditative soundscape, evoking Istanbul’s role as a bridge between East and West, echoes the transitions between visual clarity and ambiguity — transforming the viewer into a listener. The result is a contemplative experience that merges the visual and the auditory into one meditative flow.
January 28 – March 8, 2025