Erkaya's compositions are always framed by a mysterious and dreamlike message, which gives his images a stylized and elegant appearance. The portraits he presents are adorned with delicate grace and strength, contrasting the classic elegance of the female body with the photographer's contemporary art techniques. The viewer must confront themes of self-perception and the modern human condition through Erkayas' works, which are bold and evocative in their symbolism. His bold use of color or sharp black and white images creates a captivating exploration of identity, duality and perception in his images. Impose the viewer to reflect on the distinction between what he perceives and what he reflects.
AVAILABLE ARTWORKS BY KORAY ERKAYA
Don't Tell Mamma Series
This is a series of black and white nude photographs that began with analog photography between 1992 and 2005, followed by a transition period to digital photography. Erkaya is currently developing it using analog photography. After its first exhibition in Istanbul in 2010, the series was presented individually in Paris and Arles within a year. Many of her photographs have been exhibited in numerous international exhibitions and art fairs, and are part of numerous collections.
Invacuo Project Series
In his new photographic art series, Erkaya revolts against individual and social de-sensitization. In order to address the memory and to increase awareness, he uses “gas” against everyone –without discrimination. He tests his models with gas in the specifically prepared labyrinth made of mirrors. When we see ourselves in the eyes of the models in the mirrors, then we’ll realize the great richness of the “Other.” Without further loss of time and lives, I hope.
TooLess Series
TooLess 3D versions of the photographs of the TooLess series create a miss perception of the human brain. The first layer of the photo texture is formed by very small black and white copies of the same photo and when they all come together it makes the color version of the same photo. The photo names indicate the number of small photos in each panel.
Self Touches Series
All about narcissism. The series, which he started during the exhibition of the Don't Tell Mama photography series at the European Nu Photo Festival (Europeen de la Photo de NU) held in Arles in Southern France in 2011, sometimes meets the beauty queens of different countries, the favorite models of agencies or the beauties working in a cafe in Arles. He continued, starting with the waitress. Sometimes the place was vast, full of innocent daisies, sometimes it was as natural as an old train station, sometimes it was as fictional as the sets surrounded by mirrors on all four sides that Erkaya had prepared in her own place. The girls were blonde, brunette, short or long hair. Soft looks, hair thrown to the wind were met with the harshest sexual messages. Simplicity and naturalness were exposed to lips with blue lipstick, hair with extended blonde curls. The vagina form found its place in each photo, without shouting. All of the models confront themselves, with their twin images. They were contradicting each other. They were all trying to explain the difference within themselves without revealing it to us. They passed through the moment and were captured by the camera with twin images. it's done, it’s over.
EXHIBITIONS
KORAY ERKAYA
REPRESENTED ARTIST
Koray Erkaya, born in Turkey in 1964, is a photographer and author based in Toronto, Canada. He began his career working as a fashion and advertising photographer for magazines, advertising agencies, and clients. In May 2010, he was invited as an honored guest to take part in a photo exhibition in the “Festival European de la photo de Nu” with the “Don’t Tell Mamma” series.
After 2010, he became more interested in fine art photography and started to work on themed projects that he created through nude photography. After the silent and peaceful protest in Istanbul Gezi Park in 2013, he prepared the photography exhibition “Invacuo” emphasizing the heavy use of tear gas on innocent protestors. The book with the same name was published in the same year.
He has opened 7 solo and 34 combined exhibitions worldwide. Among his well-known series are: Don’t Tell Mama, Self Touches, Invacuo, and TooLess.
Now, he focuses on creating installations such as special 3D frames and infinity mirror installations.
He is a member of AIAP (Association International des Arts Plastique) and an accredited photographer from PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada).