Spotlight: Turkish-Syrian Artist Khaled Tirikli’s Multidisciplinary Works Blend Arabic Lettering and Women’s Histories

The artist's most recent works are currently on view with the online gallery Arte Arta.

Khaled Tirikli. Courtesy of Arte Arta.

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About the Artist: Multidisciplinary Turkish-Syrian artist Khaled Tirikli works across mediums, but his focus remains singular: He is drawn to exploring the roots of traditions and stories found across societies, cultures, and religions. His primary interest is how these traditions, and misunderstandings of traditions, have exerted long-lasting negative consequences on women in society, even acts of violence. His works obliquely address the violence that is enacted on women in the Middle East, but also the more subtle and pervasive realities of mental, emotional, and cultural violence. His works are currently on view through the online gallery Arte Arta

Why We Like It: Khaled Tirikli is also a noted writer, as well as artist, and has researched the histories of Arabic calligraphy. In his works, Khaled often unifies the delicacy of the Arabic letter with imagery of the female figure to create complex and thought-provoking visual narratives. Layering is an important part of his practice; Khaled’s works often include elements of silkscreen printing with manual painting applied on top. Khaled has addressed subjects of child marriages, sexual violence, body and period shaming, and other more nuanced aspects of brutality against women, hoping to give voice to women. 

According to the Artist: “With each body of work, I believe that there should be full integration with the art piece, where I, body and soul, become one with the artwork. This is my own process of Sufism, where I disappear as a person at that moment and I get found in the artwork itself.”

Browse works by the artist below.

 

Sightless 2
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Khaled Tirikli, Sightless 2 (2020). Courtesy of Arte Arta Gallery.

Khaled Tirikli, Sightless 2 (2020). Courtesy of Arte Arta Gallery.

 

Crucifixion
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Khaled Tirikli, Crucifixion. Apple of Eve. Courtesy of Arte Arta.

Khaled Tirikli, Crucifixion. Courtesy of Arte Arta.

 

Lyrical Body 2
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Khaled Tirikli, Lyrical Body 2. Courtesy of Arte Arta.

Khaled Tirikli, Lyrical Body 2. Courtesy of Arte Arta.


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