Sakir Gökcebag

The Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary

Works from Sakir Gökçebag (born in 1965 in Denizli, Turkey, lives and works in Hamburg) are characterized by their lightness, simplicity, and their very special sense of humor. They predominantly consist of everyday objects, including umbrellas, carpets, and shoes, which have been cut up, rearranged, reassembled, and reproduced in various constellations in open spaces. In doing so, the artist refers to the ornamental form, memory, and the fragility of perception, which are connected to the objects presentation in their materiality as well as language and image.
The artist has become particularly well known for his sculptures and installations. In these, he stages various materials of banal items quite outside of their usual function, thus, transforming the familiar into the unfamiliar. As a result of both spontaneity and discipline, they are simple yet complex. Rooted in reality and avoiding established roles, the work of Sakir Gökçebag is simultaneously playful and thoughtful. Thereby, it calls for the questioning of daily routines and encourages viewers to peek behind the perceived normal.
The monograph presented here includes a selection of works exhibited in various exhibitions between 2014 and 2017. Texts by Barbara Auer and Bettina Schönfelder.