Life is so beautiful! / Mehmet Ali Uysal
The exhibition consists of mixed media sculptures that focus on the fragility and imperfections of life. Created using materials like polyester, glass, car tires, and stone, these works establish a deliberate contrast between the hardness of the materials and the conceptual fragility they represent—while still aligning with the overall idea of the show. Uysal is known for his large-scale installations that transform spaces, disrupt the viewer’s spatial perception, and integrate with their surroundings through material interaction. In this exhibition, the artist reveals the flaws hidden on the surface, shifting his focus to the unnoticed glitches embedded in daily life. Drawing from personal experiences, he brings together works created with different intentions, building new layers of meaning within a fragmented structure. The title “Life Is Beautiful!” ironically questions the belief in beauty that persists despite adversity. Uysal says: “Whenever I feel bad, someone shows up claiming life is still beautiful. I’m sure many of us have experienced this. We internalize this idea and keep going. We find new excitements and restart as if we have no other choice. And so, we move out of that suffocating mood, forget what we were questioning, and return to the ordinary flow of life. We become ordinary, and we heal. But does the absence of suffering really help us become more aware? If all troubles disappeared, what would make life worth living? I’m not saying life is ugly or bad, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep convincing myself it’s ‘so beautiful.’ Glorifying life boosts our resilience—so much so that nearly every bad situation becomes bearable. And instead of resisting or rebelling, we begin to reflect. After all, ‘life is beautiful,’ right?” Uysal isn’t trying to deliver a clear message or claim that life isn’t beautiful. What he does is sculpt the illusion of a beautiful life. Rather than fixing flaws, he focuses on making abstract problems visible. He creates space for the viewer to recognize this artificial sense of joy and form their own interpretation. As Edgar Degas once said: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
11.07.2025 - 18.08.2025