Profile
Yaprak Akinci
Born: 1984
Hometown: Istanbul
Based in: London
Yaprak Akinci was born in Istanbul in 1984.
Her work is profoundly affected by the frantic architectural transformation and unfettered construction that she has observed over many years. With the confines of the city relentlessly pushed back, her paintings suggest the inevitability of barren post-industrial landscapes, where consumption has given way to degeneration and, ultimately, extinction.
Her dark interpretation of colour and use of intangible forms and structures create a sense of heightened tension but also one of potent silence.
A graduate of the illustrious Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Akinci has produced work in sectors as varied as graphic design, photography, cinema and engraving, all of which continue to inform and enrich her compositions.
In 2010, she moved to Rome to study for a Masters in Graphic Arts, where painting became the focus of her artistic output. Her first personal exhibition was held in the city in 2014.
She has exhibited at shows in Istanbul, Rome and London, where she is now based.
About Yaprak Akinci
What inspires you?
Industrial Areas, Decaying Constructions, Production - Consumption, Impact of People on Earth and Dystopia
Describe your creative process.
In order to understand the characteristics of mega cities and modernisation, I form a collection of images - ranged from industrial areas to desert-like landscapes - and these images are eventually poured into drawings or paintings with many different mediums
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Balance, Simplicity, Controversial
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
William Kentridge, Franz Kline, Anselm Kiefer, Vieira da Silva
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
painting knife