Deniz Kurdak
London based textile artist, Deniz Kurdak, has been honing her skills in both hand and machine embroidery since 2016, shortly after her relocation from Istanbul. Originally a theatre designer, Deniz blends her interest in needlework with her visual story-telling skills, which derive from her education at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.The seeds of her interest in needlework were sown in her childhood, supported and encouraged by her grandmother. She was later gifted a sewing machine, which led her to find her medium in free-motion embroidery and explore the boundaries of needlework.With her hometown, Istanbul, being under constant urban and cultural transformation, Deniz’s work is highly influenced by the notions of belonging, roots, culture, architecture and identity. The connection between memories and space -some of which sadly no longer exists today- is the main subject in most of her pieces.Deniz has taken part in several group exhibitions, and her short animation movies have been screened in many international film festivals, including the highly acclaimed Portobello Film Festival. Formerly an academic member of staff, Deniz has also conducted several workshops in universities in Basel, Tennessee and Istanbul.
I draw and paint with thread. A sewing machine is my primary tool. This frees me in my production process by having much less control than a pencil or a brush and having to accept the flaws. Yet, detail is vital to me, and my art is elaborate. I like to depict contradictions, the beautiful and the disturbing, the fragile and the strong. The subject of my work is generally derived from my background or sometimes my daily life. Being dislocated from my hometown forces me to think a lot about identity, belonging, roots and culture and this hugely shapes my work. Most often, memory and space are my main topics. I believe space and objects have the power to trigger emotions or long-forgotten memories. And I like to embellish this idea. I find inspiration in music, architecture and landscapes or cityscapes.
My working process starts almost instinctively following an impression. Then, I develop it by doing some research and sketches. Later, I draw it onto fabric and stitch through it. Stitching, whether in free-motion embroidery or hand embroidery, has a meditative effect. It lowers one’s heart rate. And as it is such a slow process, I -almost unconsciously- delve deeper into my thoughts and further develop from my starting point. Hence all my work is very personal, indeed.
