Transformation

Transformation, which has shaped the agenda of the century, is one of the fundamental concepts being newly researched and even discovered across many fields, from scientific disciplines to personal development programs. The research programs developed in Genetics and Molecular Biology are continuously adding new knowledge through experiments, providing findings that challenge previously thought immutable information about living organisms and species. In laboratories worldwide, millions of scientists are experimenting with and documenting the results of their genomic projects, collecting their findings in articles and books, and identifying transformations to present scientific conclusions. These studies, which started with the decoding of genomes in living species, including plants, have been accelerating at a dizzying pace since the mid-twentieth century. DNA analysis and genetic discoveries define the limitless possibilities of the new world order and the scientific developments that have been achieved. The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, heralded the beginning of a new era, described as a revolution in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases ranging from asthma to Alzheimer’s, from cancer to depression, and even aging. These international studies and discoveries have started providing new opportunities for the global business world. Thus, the era of transformation, DNA, and genomes has begun. The terms of humanity’s scientific evolution, marking a turning point, have found their place in life, creating new expressions at different philosophical levels and domains. They have even permeated the current topics of daily life, finding meaning across various segments of society as both relevant and determinant of the future. In parallel with the scientific evolution, these concepts are transforming into contemporary works of art, gaining new interpretations and meanings in the hands of artists.

Burçin Erdi introduced the concept of transformation into her artistic expressions three years ago through preliminary studies. She began transferring these ideas to her canvases in 2013, focusing on transformations related to living beings that trace the assumed first signs of life on Earth, particularly those found in the depths of the ocean. Erdi’s artistic interpretations examine the transformations of marine life, which span billions of years and reach into the 21st century. She paints insects, especially dragonflies (Anisoptera), which begin life emerging from eggs laid near water. The first stage of a dragonfly’s life, in which they spend most of their time underwater breathing through gill-like organs, is reflected in her canvases through the technical expertise she has developed. Each canvas contains multiple perceptions, created as different visual scenes. The new technique Burçin Erdi applies in her paintings allows her to define the stages of transformation. Dragonflies, clinging to life underwater with their gills in the depths of blue, are depicted in Erdi’s paintings as they undergo a year-long development period spent in water. After this, they crawl out of the water to a safe place, waiting for their backs to split open. Following this painful wait, an adult dragonfly emerges from the ruptured skin. Initially small, their wings and bodies rapidly grow to their full size. In Burçin Erdi’s paintings, this vivid example of nature’s transformation becomes a work of art. With a contemporary artist’s sensitivity, Erdi resolves the phases of transformation in the same frame with dual visual effects. The richness and conceptual unity she has developed in both subject matter and technique are reinforced by her academic education and special experiences gained through studies in Spain. Combining the painting techniques of classical Spanish art with contemporary painting techniques and materials, Erdi began experimenting and then applying them in her work. This four-year period marked the beginning of a new phase in Erdi’s paintings. The technical expertise she developed in preparation for the periodic evolutions of transformation now translates into Burçin Erdi’s paintings with contemporary interpretations. Burçin Erdi’s Transformation Paintings offer you the artistic projection of a new transformation.