We came together with multidisciplinary artist Ecemnaz Dalmaz at her studio in Ulus to listen to the story of a journey that started with pen and paper and was shaped by weaving. While talking about the contribution of questioning, research and examination to transformation, we witnessed the artist's creations with her special designs for spaces and individuals.
You started your career in painting and you continue with different disciplines such as illustration, sculpture and handmade carpet projects that you weave with the hand tufted technique. Can you tell us about yourself by describing the development processes of your practice?
I am a multidisciplinary artist. My journey started with pen and paper and continued with working on fabric. Later, the process changed with my desire to move to three dimensions and my curiosity about materials.
I am generally interested in materials that I can play with by transforming them into various forms. I met the tufting machine during the pandemic period. It was a bit challenging, at that time it was not yet so common. At first I was only covering my paintings with tufting, then the process continued until I started covering objects with tufting. Now I'm thinking of going a bit further and covering rooms.
The carpets you make with the tufting machine are among the most colorful products of OMM Shop. How did the story of the products begin for you?
Actually, they are almost the first ones I ever made. I wanted to start with patterns before moving on to figures. I was thinking of covering a surface. I always thought that this material would nourish my decoration and design side, but then I discovered that it is very effective and pleasant both in my artworks and figurative uses. I realized that I was more colorful in decoration and site-specific design than in my artworks.
We observe that you divide your work into personal productions and product designs under the name whoknowstudio. How do you create the distinction here? Can you tell us a little bit about your personal art projects?
I like to create custom designs for spaces and people. I founded whoknowstudio to be comfortable as a design studio; to create a thin line between my identity as an artist. In whoknowstudio, I do more project-based works and designs. I am even getting ready to launch a collection. I cover second-hand objects and turn them into something else, this method is still in process. As for my personal art projects; I have a solo exhibition in progress. We have planned its completion for October 2024, but there is no exact date yet. For that exhibit, I am thinking of making a room covered with weaving, and of course we will also encounter figures. Nevertheless, it is still at a stage I am still envisioning.
In your artistic productions, we notice that you feed on themes such as human emotions, traumas and the body. Can we talk about the place of these sources in you and your work?
I am a person who inquires too much, who wants to investigate and analyze. Sometimes I get carried away and keep digging and digging, and like magic, they come out as they come out, inspiring me. Their position in relation to me is that they are like my main source of nourishment. If I don't feel my emotions, myself; it doesn't matter which one it is, if I don't hear my inner voice, my internal voice, so to speak, I feel like I've lost everything and this turns into anger in me. Not hearing your heart and inner voice is like going deaf all of a sudden. I always need them to not get lost. It is me that means my work, and it is me that means my work. That's why they are both connected.
What are the next steps for you and whoknowstudio in the near future? What are your expectations, plans and dreams for the upcoming times?
My priority for now is my solo exhibition, as I said, my editing and research process continues. The realization phase is the easiest part for me after I have it in my head. We have an e-commerce plan for whoknowstudio, I am forming a team and my dream for this is to first create a collection of designs of second-hand items, and then continue collaborating with brands as we have done before as well as putting the stories into practice. I also dream to be in a position where I am in demand in the interior design part of the houses. I have a desire to be more active under three headings, I am currently working on this side a little bit.