"Two opposing visual languages: In Botero, we see figures inflated like balloons that evoke a sense of lightness, while in Erkan, the figures are dense and heavy like lead. Their commonality lies in their fullness of questions, refusing to settle where you want them to. Botero’s figures inevitably invoke concepts like 'fat' and 'caricature,' prompting reflection. How do these images manage not to be caricatures? Or do they? To what extent do they succeed?
What about Nurettin Erkan? What does he not depict? All of Erkan's heavy figures, which are entirely nude, present a discussion on vitality and lifelessness. How much of the living is truly alive? Is the non-living soil or stone? Is it in the evening glow or the morning light? For some figures, it can be said that they neither live nor are dead. Some have a resemblance to sculptures. Others, particularly the more linear and shadowy ones, resemble ghosts. Those that look like sculptures could also be said to resemble aliens; they evoke a sense of space, much like aliens from films, and the floating rocks contribute to this feeling. Despite being female figures, they are all bald. In this regard, they evoke images of camps or some old asylums. Nurettin Erkan's exhibition has ended, but his paintings can still be accessed online."
Necmiye ALPAY
Radical Newspaper, 07/15/2010
