ABOUT

Born in 1984 in Istanbul, after graduated from french High School Lycee St. Joseph; Ece Gauer received Sabanci Foundation, University of Mimar Sinan First Prize for best student of the year in Painting, where she studied painting and mosaic-fresco. Having also studied fashion design, cinema and photography in various education programs in France, afterwards she is also graduated in 2017 from Fine Arts Academy (ADBK) Munich, Department of Painting in Prof Axel Kasseböhmer atelier. In 2023 started her further studies in 9 Eylul University of Fine arts in Izmir.

Living in the space between two cultures (Munich- Istanbul), Ece Gauer is interested in exploring the "in-between spaces": the real and the unreal , the solid and the void, the ancient and the modern. For Ece Gauer, painting provides a gateway that allows the imagination to move freely between these different worlds. Her work combines the pattern-oriented art of the sacred geometry world with the Western approaches of figurative art.

Artist Statement:

Living in the space between two cultures, I am interested in investigating the in-between spaces: between real and unreal, between the solid and the void. As I live away from my home, I always feel the presence of two different worlds, cultures and points of view. It makes me see contradictions in everything. Experiencing differences emotionally and mentally and trying to adapt to a new place becomes your lifestyle and brings you to an endless journey. I started going inside to look for spiritual treasures. I have always been fascinated by the relationship between ancient and modern art and I explore this through my works.

They combine traditional cultural patterns with figures. This also symbolizes the stories of the places that I come from and how colorful and ornamental they are. Painting is my way of communication and my silent words that make me feel free and at home. I use patterns on canvas, ceramic or mosaic according to what I really want to tell. By this means, the paintings do talk about souls and feelings instead of me. Creating characters or visual phenomena is just the firecracker of the ideas that come along with the patterns. These ideas describe themselves and their own inner worlds related to several mystical traditions. There are common elements that are needed for spiritual metamorphosis and transitions to another, transcendent dimension.

According to the philosophy that feeds my soul; there is an inner dimension to the law that has to do with repentance, abasement of desire, and discipline of the self, or elimination of the ego. Transparent figures emphasize inner world of the pure innocence and ´übermensch´. It is an important concept in culture of the prototype human being where pure consciousness, one's true identity contrasts with the materialized human. The two different layers are against each other in a contradictory way; just as materialism and free souls. After that point the paintings already become a being with their own philosophy and a story to tell.

Education:

2011 - 2017 Fine Arts Academy (ADBK) Munich Studium der Malerei bei Prof. Axel Kasseböhmer
2010 ADBK Munich, Erasmus Studies Prof. Anke Doberauer
2007 - 2012 Mimar Sinan University Istanbul Bachelor of Arts Painting & Mozaik - FrescoProf. Mehmet Mahir
2004 - 2007 Lasalle International Academy, Istanbul English Diplome Fashion design & Marketin
2003 Université Lumiere Lyon – Arts du Spectacle Cinema & Photographie
1999 - 2003 French High School - Saint Joseph Istanbul