Born in Ankara, based in Berlin & Vienna.
İpek Çınar (she/her) is an artist and researcher working predominantly with participatory art practices. Çınar aims to create spaces in her work that explore the intersection of art and politics. She uses play, joy, and unexpected encounters as means of expression in her socially engaged art projects.
Çınar completed her bachelor's degree in Political Science at METU Ankara and her master's degree in the Art in Context Program at UdK Berlin. She is currently a PhD candidate in the PhD in Practice Program at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. In addition to her artistic production, she also works in the field of anti-discrimination and social justice.
She has had solo exhibitions at Poligon "The Shooting Gallery" (Istanbul) and Ka Atelier (Ankara) and has participated in numerous group shows in various countries. She has been invited to international artist residencies, workshops, and festivals, where she took part in exhibition and lecture programs. Her first artist publication, Good Deed Bad Deed, a collaboration with legal academic İpek Aşıkoğlu, is a board game for photographers to discuss their intentions and privileges during production and presentation processes.
İpek Çınar loves the word "Orta" (Middle). She has been co-editor of Orta Format since 2015, alongside Şener Soysal and Eda Yiğit, and is a proud co-founder of Orta Okul together with Ece Gökalp.
Solo Exhibitions
2018
“My Friend, Why are the Great Gods in Conference?”
in Ka Photography Enhancement Atelier, Ankara, TURKEY
2017
Mediation
in Poligon “The Shooting Gallery”, Istanbul, TURKEY
Group Exhibitions
2022
"Aşina" at Bilsart, İstanbul, TURKEY
"Signals: Networks and Artistic Interventions" at Oyoun, Berlin, GERMANY
"Privilege of Dreaming" in Haus der Statistik, Berlin, GERMANY
2021
“The Danger of Synchronicity” in UdK Rundgang, Berlin, GERMANY
2019
“Aralık IV” in Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul, TURKEY
2017
“Bolero” in EOS Gallery, Athens, GREECE
“Çekmeden Fotograf” in SALT Ulus, Ankara, TURKEY
2016
“Bolero” in Place des Augustins, Geneva, Switzerland
“ISSP 2016 Final Exhibition” in ISSP, Kuldiga, LATVIA
2015
“Glassbell” in Fotoistanbul, Istanbul, TURKEY
“Kuyudaki Tas” in CerModern, Ankara, TURKEY
“Bolero” in Torun, Ankara, TURKEY
“Haihatuksen Kevatnayttelty 2015” in Taidelaitos Haihatus, Joutsa, FINLAND
2014
“The Amateur Photography Festival” in Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, TURKEY
“This is a guerrilla exhibition. Really!” in Fotoistanbul, Istanbul, TURKEY
2013
“Garden” in Ka Photography Enhancement Atelier, Ankara, TURKEY
Publications and Presentations
2021
"Üretim, dayanısma ve ögrenme alanı olarak kolektif yapı", artist talk
GAPO, digital, see here.
"Velhasıl Fotografın Niyetini Okumak", artist talk
Orta Format, digital, see here.
2020
"Üç Dakika: Ortanormal Forum", artist talk
Orta Format, digital, see here.
Overcoming Uncertainity in The Cultural Sector During the Covid-19 Crisis & Beyond, artist talk
Start Greece & Goethe Instiutut Thesalloniki, GREECE
2019
“Independent Initiatives and Organizations in Turkey’s Art Scene”, artist talk in Taiwan Annual, Taipei, TAIWAN
“West Asia and South Asia Art Spaces x Taiwan Art Spaces”, artist talk in Taiwan Annual, Taipei, TAIWAN
“Aralık IV”, group publication
in TURKEY
“Editörlük Askı Öldürür mü?”, artist talk in SALT Galata, Istanbul, TURKEY
2018
"Balkon Konusmalari II", artist talk
in pose, Istanbul, TURKEY
"Ayrik Otu", artist talk
in SALT Galata, Istanbul, TURKEY
2017
Maps-Magazine, “Issue#3: Exploration”
in ITALY
2016
“ISSP 2016 Final Exhibition”
in Kuldiga, LATVIA
2015
“BLACKLIE. Vol II”
in Cagliari, ITALY
“Documentary Photography Days”
in Fotograf Vakfı, Istanbul, TURKEY
“FINAL WORKS I Personal Storytelling: Photography Workshop with Arja Hyytainien”, in Istanbul, TURKEY