Ayşe Erkmen

Ayşe Erkmen is a Turkish conceptual artist known for her site-specific installations and sculptures that explore the relationship between art, architecture, and the environment. Born in Istanbul in 1949, Erkmen studied at the city's Academy of Fine Arts before continuing her education in London and New York.

Ayşe Erkmen transforms everyday objects and materials into unexpected installations, with a focus on the relationship between the artwork and its display space to challenge viewers' perceptions and encourage new engagement. The notable work by Erkmen, "On Water," consisted of a series of floating platforms installed on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, during the 2011 Venice Biennale. The platforms were positioned to create a pathway that allowed visitors to walk across the canal, creating a unique perspective of the city.

As Erkmen once said, "I take everyday objects, or more often situations, which I already see as artworks/sculptures, and I work them into artworks that are freed from these starting points. There is a long process of working through to reduce and change the direction. The tension may come from the result of this switch of context or the effort to balance the form and function while creating the work."

Erkmen's work has been exhibited extensively throughout the world, including at the Istanbul Biennial, the Sharjah Biennial, and the Venice Biennale. She also had a solo exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery in London in 2013.