under the thousand stars
IMUR presents our exhibition of the year:
As Dusk Falls, Solo Exhibition & Watercolor Workshop
By Cüneyt Şenyavaş
Project Advisor: Ali Sarikaya
Poster Design: Hannah Noh
Opening Reception: Friday, Dec 1, 2023, 6-8pm, 570 Broome St, New York
Exhibition Days: Dec 2 (570 Broome St, New York), Dec 8 – 9 (67 Greene St, Jersey City)
Watercolor Workshop I (in Turkish): Dec 2, 2023, 2-6pm, 570 Broome St, New York;
Watercolor Workshop II (in English): Dec 9, 2023, 2-6pm, 67 Greene St, Jersey City, New Jersey
Born in Bursa, Turkiye, Senyavas spent his childhood with the passion of comics. This passion triggered his approach towards art which first started with caricatures, then illustration and finally watercolor paint in the recent periods. Having started his watercolor studies in 2013, Senyavas has had the chance to paint with many important artists in this field and made watercolor paintings in various cities of Europe, creating a collection in the field of city paintings. The coincidental authenticity of watercolor and its close relationship with expressionism are important factors that strengthen the artist’s passion.
Artist Statement
How do I take “water” and “color” as the media to best express the ideology and consciousness in my paintings? By marrying transparency and opacity, accidental aesthetics of water and color pigments can generate layers of dreams, illusions, emotions and bright feelings about landscapes. “As Dusk Falls” is by far the best exhibition that showcases my unique approach to watercolor paintings.
I lead my audience on an emotional journey of light and shadows through my depictions of the dynamics of city life and the soul of structures. When dealing with cityscapes, I elect abstraction over realistic representation. This is because I want to capture the essence, stories, and relationships between the buildings and their surroundings on paper. In this process, I control my tinting strength by choosing shadow-engulfed forms and I adore faintly discernible silhouettes in the distance.
Color is everything to me. Rather than using colors that mimic reality, I choose a value range that suits the unique atmosphere of each painting, offering not just a visual celebration but also creating emotional depth for my audience. I enjoy creating accidental beauty, and it rekindles my passion for this art form every time when I make a new work, and I shall continue to do so.
Photo Gallery
