Hakan Gürbüzer

Hakan Gürbüzer was born in 1990 in Denizli (Turkey). He studied at Pamukkale University, Department of Education of Visual Arts between 2010-2014. Afterwards, he started working at a tattoo studio and later opened his own studio in 2017. He continues to live and work in Denizli.

In 2014, Gürbüzer took part in the “166th Anniversary of the Founding of Teacher Training Schools” group exhibition (Pamukkale University Faculty of Education, Denizli), and in the group exhibition "Bir Grup İnsan” [A Group of People] in 2022 (Merkez Efendi Cultural Center, Denizli).

Hakan Gürbüzer is an artist who blends the inner conflicts of human nature with contemporary themes. His works often focus on a single figure, using distorted forms to establish a connection with the viewer. Employing a vivid and striking color palette, Gürbüzer addresses the clash between personal ideologies and societal challenges through a Neo-Cubist approach. His paintings offer a compelling narrative of introspection and existential struggles through fragmented realities that construct abstract worlds.

At first glance, the influence of Cubism is immediately evident in his works. However, upon closer inspection, hyper-realistic elements emerge, presenting a hybrid understanding that goes beyond traditional Cubism. In this sense, Gürbüzer’s art can be classified as Neo-Cubist, as it elegantly combines multiple perspectives of an object on a two-dimensional plane. Additionally, traces of Futurism can be seen in his innovative approach. His dramatic compositions, characterized by a cacophony of colors and gestures, feature fragmented and geometrically reduced details that resemble collages. These details appear as if layered images from different universes of the same moment, creating a surreal and uncanny dream world where time and space intertwine. Perspectives are blended, people and worlds collide seamlessly, leaving the viewer in a constant search for focus in each piece. The most crucial element of Gürbüzer’s intricate approach is his deliberate use of colors to convey emotion and achieve a sense of unity. On a larger scale, his works balance harmony and discord simultaneously through deformed forms and vibrant hues.

Gürbüzer’s art draws on the concept of cultural memory. His compositions, centered on the struggles of individual existence and societal disconnection in modern society, are sprinkled with seemingly random yet intricately assembled details. These details represent mosaics of personal conflicts and reckonings, drawn from different times in the artist’s life. He often focuses on a single central figure, engaging the audience with a direct gaze, forging a connection between the artwork and the viewer. These protagonists appear proud yet pensive, burdened by the weight of the world, embodying anguish and introspection. Gürbüzer captures the existential dread of confronting his past, present, and future selves, a recurring theme in his body of work. As he explains: “All of humanity alive today carries the memory of thousands of years of human history. This memory holds fears, knowledge, beliefs, traditions, customs, cultures, loyalties, and habits that form one side of our internal conflicts. On the other side are the geography we inhabit, technology, education, individual rights, freedoms, and the threats, anxieties, and challenges of our era. The more principles, ideologies, and ideas a person harbors, the greater their inner conflicts. What triggers these conflicts? How do we cope with them? What solutions do we create, if any? And what are the mental and physical effects of these conflicts on us?” Through this introspection, Gürbüzer’s works invite the viewer to confront these universal struggles, transforming deeply personal conflicts into a shared human experience.