GN8PROJECT: So Ayşen, tell me a bit about your background.
AYŞEN: I studied fine arts for 4 years in Istanbul, which is where I am originally from. I moved to New England about 12 years ago, and have been occupying a great studio in an old button factory in Portsmouth, NH since 2006.
GN8P: Would you say that your move to the States was artistically driven?
AYŞEN: No it was not, unless you consider life an artistic endeavor overall.
GN8P: Do you think living and working in NH has helped shape or manipulate your artwork at all?
AYŞEN: Certainly. The moment you are born you are in a relationship with your surroundings. How you respond to what receive from your surroundings makes you who you are. And I think this also applies to your work as well.
GN8P: You said that you’ve been working in a studio located in an old button factory since 2006 – what is it about this building that keeps you happy working there?
AYŞEN: The Button Factory has a very industrial and urban feel which I can relate to. My process requires me to work alone, but I enjoy the feeling of continuous activity going on in the other art studios around me.
GN8P: Would you say you have any studio habits or quirks that help you get pumped up to make artwork (ie. music, rituals, etc.)?
AYŞEN: I cannot function without tea. PG Tips is a must have. I put the kettle on as the first thing, then I decide whether to use my clear glass or white porcelain mug, depending on the mood of the day.
GN8P: On your blog there is a video of you shuffling back and forth to tango or perhaps salsa (?) music – what made you perform this skit?
AYŞEN: It was a hot Summer day in my studio, and a playlist of my favorite tunes were shuffling in the background, when Plena For My Grundle by Garage a Trois started to play I got up and started to move back and forth with each chorus. We could say it was the composition of the song that prompted those moves.
GN8P: I’ve never heard of Garage a Trois but I’m totally going to download some tunes – really fun music! Now, moving on to your work: What would you say are your favorite mediums or materials you use the most? Why do you gravitate towards these materials?
AYŞEN: The piece or the series defines its own medium really. Though in general I like inconspicuous materials that keep the focus on visual expression rather than the material itself.
GN8P: I noticed that you tend to work with relatively muted/toned-down palette with the exception of a few bold pops of color. What interests you in this combination?
AYŞEN: Tonal dynamics. Contrast allows me to express a lot, without saying much.
GN8P: Are your most recent paintings painted on wood, canvas or aluminum?
AYŞEN: The Subtraction Series are painted on wood panels. I like how wood tolerates me.
GN8P: Which two artists would you say inspire you the most in your artistic vision and aesthetic?
AYŞEN: I am deeply moved by Francis Bacon and John Coltrane.
GN8P: What is your biggest challenge right now as an artist?
AYŞEN: We live in a time where information circulates faster then ever. The amount of verbal and audio-visual intake we receive in a day is overwhelming, which I love. Rather than isolating myself, I prefer to be fully connected. However, to be able to create something unique, one needs to hear what one’s inner voice is saying despite all this noise.
GN8P: Any goals you are trying to achieve in the near future?
AYŞEN: I do not have big goals. I like to live one day at a time. Today’s goal is to have a productive day and hopefully the outcome would be worthy.
TO VIEW MORE OF AYŞEN ORHON’S WORK CLICK HERE OR VISIT THE ARTIST’S WEBSITE
All Photographs Taken by Ayşen Orhon Unless Otherwise Noted.
