How can an artist adapt to a new environment? Painter Selin Aydinol moved from Istanbul to Antwerp over 7 years ago, and her style has changed quite a bit since then. Currently a Kunst in Huis (KIH) member, her artistic process bridges the figurative and the abstract. We sat down with Selin to discuss how she got to where she is today.
You’re now based in Antwerp, but you lived most of your life in Istanbul. How was that transition for you?
I started my studies in Istanbul, where I studied painting at Marmara University. I then did an Erasmus in Madrid for a semester. It’s where I met my now husband, who happens to be from Belgium. We were thinking of ways we could live together. We lived far away, and the long distance was hard. In 2016, I decided that I would transfer my credits to a school in Belgium. I ended up at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Antwerp. I now have my Bachelor's and Masters's in painting from there. As I moved into this new place, everything changed. I was away from my friends, my family. I had to adapt to this new school, people, environment... I was going through a rough, emotional stage in life. I was changing, and my artistic process changed with me. I was not painting in the same style anymore. I was respecting the feelings I had. I suddenly found my current style during the end of my Bachelor's.
I was changing, and my artistic process changed with me
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Could you tell me more about these stylistic changes?
When I was in Istanbul, most of the students followed a more contemporary style. It was more “free” there in that sense. When I started studying at KASK, I felt like there was a certain style I had to follow. Because of that, I started to do more figurative work. As the years went by, I realized that it doesn’t matter where I am. I should just paint the way I want to. I now paint mostly abstract with acrylic and lacquer paint. I start by making a figurative painting, and I divide them into their own little pieces which make them abstract. Each piece is freed from the figurative as it also becomes beautiful enough to hang alone. I want to emphasize the value of abstract by breaking the figure.
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When you paint your initial figurative piece, are there specific subjects you’re interested in?
I started with a portrait of Vanessa Bell. I discovered her while browsing books at KASK’s library. Her portraits really struck me. What I do now is I snip a scene from a movie and I draw a sketch based on that. What ends up on the first canvas is a figurative piece. I take a picture and then divide the image into sections in Photoshop. I saw MDFs that represent each of these sections and paint them with acrylic and lacquer.
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How did you experience the transition from art student to professional artist?
It started with my graduation exhibition. There, my art caught the attention of the Geukens en De Vil curator, Lien Craps. My artwork was exhibited in their gallery for To Be Antwerp. I was then approached by NICC, who gave me the opportunity to exhibit my artwork at MHKA. I started to feel like I wasn’t a student anymore. After that, my work was noticed by the art director of Kunst in Huis (KIH), Claudine Hellweg, who invited me to become one of their artists. It’s a really good feeling when someone appreciates your art and wants to work with you. I was really lucky.
It’s a really good feeling when someone appreciates your art and wants to work with you. I was really lucky
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Can you tell me more about your collaboration with KIH?
The art director selects your artworks to add them to their collection, and they either rent or sell your paintings. They also gave me the opportunity to exhibit my work at the Antwerp Art Weekend 2021 and Affordable Art Fair 2023. Thanks to them, I was really able to develop my career.
If you’re an emerging artist, contact KIH! They’re always looking for new artists and they’re very helpful. I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for them. I was still new to this country, this art bubble. I wasn’t so confident about the idea of earning from my art, but they took my hand and guided me through it. So, I would advise young artists to look into KIH, residencies…
I wasn’t so confident about the idea of earning from my art, but (KIH) took my hand and guided me through it
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Is this something you would recommend to foreign artists in particular?
Well, people who are from here and who have lived their entire lives here, already have some sort of a network. I didn’t know anyone! I was kind of alone. I also didn’t know the language… It was messy. But thanks to NICC, KIH, and others who appreciate my art, I found my way.
<div class="editorial-banner"> <div class=“editorial-credits”> @artist_selinaydinol / @kunstinhuis / @antwerpart / selinaydinol.com </div></div>
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