BEDRİ BAYKAM
“STILL WET”
RECENT ABSTRACTS
@Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts
April 6 - May 30, 2023
Bedri Baykam’s 147th solo show, “Still Wet” RECENT ABSTRACTS will be held at the Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts in Downtown LA, California, from April 6 to May 30, 2023.
Baykam, a first-generation New-Expressionist since the very early 80s, evolved his art in various ways, becoming a “cultural guerilla” struggling for non-western artists’ rights and a multidisciplinary artist involved deeply in political activism and political art. A 40-page catalog was published for the exhibition, foreword by the well known California critic Peter Frank.
Frank describes Baykam's art in his article as follows:
"The notion of originality, especially as a measure of artistic quality or importance, is the impetus for one of Baykam's many aesthetic, social, and political crusades. He revels in these arguments, taking risks with his art, his reputation, even his life to torment creative thought and resistance to intellectual and societal tyranny."
“STILL WET” RECENT ABSTRACTS
Baykam, known throughout his career for his spontaneous expressionist use of paint, alongside his versatile multimedia works ranging from Pop to political hotlines, uses thick mixed-media elements that end up creating several layers that look not only “still wet” but also bring surprisingly a fresh spirit to abstract painting that has been around us since 1913. “Still Wet” mainly features new abstract works on canvas that vary around 6 x 7 feet, all done between 2021 and 2022, as well as 4Ds (lenticular works), paper works, and Art History Map.
“BEDRİ BAYKAM’S ART HISTORY MAP”
Baykam launched his “Art History Map” in Türkiye in April 2019; it has raised great interest worldwide. It comprises all the art movements and major (or sometimes lesser known!) artists chosen by Baykam from the Renaissance till 2019 with a general onlook to the whole world culture of art, literature, science, and events, with a macro vision bringing a global vision in time and space, rarely seen in the western art world.
It also shows all related connections of art movements among artists from different centuries and decades and their simultaneity with all the explorers, philosophers, statesperson, scientists, musicians, filmmakers, etc. Thus, the Map also acquires a world cultural and socio-political dimension.
BOOK LAUNCHING: “WORLD ART DAY”
Baykam, who is the President Honoraire of the International Art Association/IAA (Official Partner of UNESCO), is also the instigator of “World Art Day” (April 15, the Birthday of Leonardo da Vinci). After Baykam’s proposal in the name of IAA, according to the decision of the Executive Board of UNESCO, World Art Day has now become one of the International Days marked officially by UNESCO.
The book “A Brief History of World Art Day” will be launched in LA as a parallel event to the show on April 15 at World Art Day, in between 5-9 PM. The event will also feature selected speakers, including Bedri Baykam, on art-related current topics on the role of art at present and in the future.
Baykam’s following shows will be in Berlin this year, in Chicago, Paris and Ankara in 2024.
“Still Wet” RECENT ABSTRACTS will be open till May 30, 2023, at Gloria Delson Contemporary Art.
------
For more information about the gallery and the exhibition:
Petra Wright
GDCA Gallery Director
777 S. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90014
(323) 309-2875
pwright@gdcagallery.com
For more information and source about Bedri Baykam:
Öykü Eras
PA of the artist
+90 (541) 775 8135
oyku.piramid@gmail.com
