A Talk About Color at The Mariago Collective

Two Women Two Arts Million Hearts   

As I walked in to hear the artist talk at The Mariago Collective, my first thought about the works present was how the colors in the paintings were so lively and abundant, and undoubtedly causing a profusion of emotional responses to anyone viewing them. Maybe it was all due to the brilliant colors on canvas intensely contrasting on the large spaces of the white walls. Or maybe it was the last hour of sunlight coming into the room from the wall of windows on the west side of the building that emitted a special radiance in the colors. Whichever the case, it was pretty clear to anyone in that room that the focal element of each work was the use of color, and once I shifted my attention to the two artists speaking, Naz Kaya Erdal and Suat Orgun, it soon became clear to me that the idea of color in art and their relationship with it was a repeating message in their conversation to the audience.

  

Untitled (Fall 1998) 2015, mixed media on canvas 35” x 47”, Naz Kaya Erdal (top)

Suat Ogrun (left) Naz Kaya Erdal (right)

First Introduction of Eminonu with the Historical Peninsula 203-2015, mixed media on canvas 22” x 14”, Suat Orgun (bottom)

I have to say that I have a strong affinity to most colors, especially when they are combined well. And being that the use of color in art is always my first attraction to a piece, I was already intrigued with each artist’s perspective regarding their relationship with color and how it influences their art as a principal element.

Erdal talked about how she sees colors as having a quality of personality in that each color has a unique character on the canvas, and therefore, we respond differently to each one. It is true that experiments have been conducted in order to understand how different colors affect us physically and psychologically. And there are certain facts even of how companies have used this understanding to persuade or discourage certain behaviors. Additionally for Erdal, color is the most important element that allows her to put emotions onto the surface of a canvas. She uses color to interpret the images that she holds in her mind which are also shaped by her emotions, experiences, memories, and hence, are able to appear on canvas.

The First Time When I Saw the Rainbow 2015, mixed media on canvas 39” x 39”, Naz Kaya Erdal

Similarly, Orgun shared that color is important for her in that the purpose of her art is to tell stories on a canvas. These are stories telling of the place or the city she is living in at the time. She tells the story of what she observes and feels around her. In addition, color plays an important role for her even in her dreams which she claims to see the images within her dreams in color. She remembers these colors from her dreams and recreates them in her art. Her dreams and her experiences are introspective reflections upon the world and people existing around her. These are her stories...all of our stories. Her mirror paintings have the purpose not only to serve as an artwork telling a story, but once we see our reflection in the mirror and linger there, we are incorporated into the art to see a new image all together on the canvas telling a new story.

Mirrors (1) 2013-2015, mixed media on canvas 36” x 36”, Suat Orgun

As I mentioned before about my attraction to color, this was definitely a show that “tugged at my art strings”. In observing the works of Erdal and Orgun, one might think that they are merely overly enthusiastic about using color in their art. But artists are quite intentional about color, as are others who understand the power of this visual element. If you are interested in seeing this show, it will be on display at The Mariago Collective until June 1^st. If you’re curious to know some facts about color, visit this blog page.

Written by blog editor, Ruth Armas