1949 / Mallia, Cyprus / Cypriot
1991 Fulbright Grant; Artist-in-Residence in New York
1974 Research in the visual arts in Vienna
1974 M.A., Fine Arts Academy, Istanbul
1973 B.A., Fine Arts Academy, Istanbul
2013 “KUYUD/ inscription” Kare Art Gallery - İstanbul
2012 “Provocation” Kare art Gallery - İstanbul
2010 “Berlin Notes” Sidestreets- Nicosia
2009 “peace prize antiques” Artavesta- Swiden
2009 “PROVOKASYON” Argo gallery- south Nicosia-CYPRUS
2008 “Provokasyon.” Paintings and other multimedia works. Sidestreets. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2007 “Phoenix Again.” Paintings, video installation and performance. Sidestreets Educational and Cultural Initiatives. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2007 “TAPSSSSS.” Paintings and video installation. Sidestreets Educational and Cultural Initiatives. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2007 “A Lost Moment (Kayıp An).” Paintings and video installation. Argo Gallery. Nicosia, Cyprus.
2006 “A Lost Moment (Kayıp An).” Paintings and video installation. 11A Kemal Zeytinoğlu Street. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2006 “Syncopation.” Gala Art Gallery, Ankara, Turkey.
2005 “Syncopation.” Parallel Exhibition to Leaps of Faith: An international arts event on the Green Line in Nicosia. Haydarpasha Art Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2004 “TAPSSSSS.” Argo Gallery. Nicosia, Cyprus.
2003 “Polygon.” Gloria Gallery. Nicosia, Cyprus.
2003 “Polygon.” School of Fine Arts Exhibition. Visby, Sweden.
2002 “Aşk Kule [Love Tower].” Pygmalion Gallery. Famagusta, North Cyprus.
2000 “İlk Akşam Yemeği [The First Supper].” School of Fine Arts Exhibition. Visby, Sweden.
2000 “İlk Akşam Yemeği [The First Supper].” Church of the Virgin of the River. Kazafana, North Cyprus.
1998 “40 Şarap 40 Etiket [40 Wines 40 Labels].” Panagia tou Potamou Church. Kazafana, North Cyprus.
1998 “İlahiler [Hymns].” Galeri Nev. Istanbul, Turkey.
1996 “İlahiler [Hymns].” Panagia tou Potamou Church. Kazafana, North Cyprus.
1995 “Vuni Resimleri [Vouni Paintings].” HP Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1994 “Diptychs.” Galeri Nev. Istanbul, Turkey.
1993 “New York Notları [New York Notes].” HP Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1992 “Macro Maki.” Atatürk Cultural Center. Istanbul, Turkey.
1991 “Adsiz [Untitled].” Fluxus Art Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1990 “Adsız [Untitled].” Kâzım Taşkent Art Gallery. Istanbul, Turkey.
1988 “Tescil Edilmiş Yaşam Kesitleri [Registered Sections of Life].” Fluxus Art Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1987 “Adsız [Untitled].” Yeşilköy Art Center. Istanbul, Turkey.
1987 “Selected Stories from the Mediterranean.” British Cultural Center. Ankara, Turkey.
1982 “Akdeniz’den Masallar [Stories from the Mediterranean].” Atatürk Cultural Center. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1980 “Kişisel sergi [Selected Works].” Dome Gallery. Kyrenia, North Cyprus.
1979 “Çocukça ’79 [Child-like, ‘79].” Saray Exhibition Hall. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2012 “contemporary Istanbul” istanbul
2010 “ Art Bousphorous” İstanbul
2009 “EYEPORT” Emin Çizenel-Anber Onar/installation-----UN meeting room-Nicosia airport
2008 “Phoenix Again” Finalist in the 5th International Painting Prize of Castellon County Council. Exhibited at the Museu de Belles Arts de Castelló (Castellón Museum of Fine Arts), Castellón de la Plana, Spain.
2008 “Positions Taken” (joint project with Anber Onar). Multimedia installation and Limited Edition Artists’ Book in “Looking Forward to Hearing From You.” Action Field Kodra 08. Thessaloniki, Greece.
2008 “Phoenix Again.” Multimedia installation in “Looking Forward to Hearing From You.” Action Field Kodra 08. Thessaloniki, Greece.
2008 “Argilla Animata Cypria” (joint project with Anber Onar). Multimedia installation in “ ‘You Give – I Give’/Cyprus Week.” European Cultural Season 2008; Galerie Nikki Diana Marquardt. Paris, France.
2008 “Phoenix Again.” Installation. Art Athina 2008; Gounaropoulos Museum. Athens, Greece.
2008 “Jülide.” In “Acts of Confidants Exhibition and Personal History Project.” Sidestreets Educational and Cultural Initiatives. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2007 “Argilla Animata” (joint project with Anber Onar) Multimedia installation and “Jasmines” Video installation in “Art Unlimited.” Bleu Galerie/Schloss Mahlberg. Schönecken/Eifel, Germany.
2007 “Argilla Animata” (joint project with Anber Onar). Sculptures and objects in The Third Annual Exhibition of the Ceramists Association of North Cyprus. Atatürk Cultural Center. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
2006 “The Art 4 Exhibition.” Intercollege Exhibition Space. Nicosia, Cyprus.
2005 “’Broken Green’: The Cultural Pipeline through the Middle East.” Gümüşlük Academy: Cultural Foundation for the Arts. Bodrum, Turkey.
2005 “Four Artists, Four Paintings, and Sketches.” Argo Gallery. Nicosia, Cyprus.
2005 “Accidental Meetings.” Powerhouse Gallery. Nicosia, Cyprus.
2004 “Moderns/Contemporaries: The Yapı Kredi Collection Exhibition.” Istanbul, Turkey.
2004 “Hyperlinks Cyprus 2004.” Evagoras Lanitis Centre. Limassol, Cyprus.
1999 “Historic Meeting of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot Artists.” KLYS
(Swedish Artistic Unions) and Gotland University College. Gotland, Sweden.
1996 “Mixed Media Exhibition.” Exclusive Art Center. Istanbul, Turkey.
1996 “Galeri Nev Collection Exhibition.” Istanbul, Turkey.
1995 “Contemporary Turkish Art.” Sotheby’s Auction. London, England
1992 “Art and Transit Workshop.” Museum of Modern Art. Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
1992 “Brushstrokes Across Cultures.” HP Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1991 “Kıbrıs Türk Resminden Bir Kesit [A Cross-Section of Turkish Cypriot Painting].” HP Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1991 “Turkish Cypriot Painting.” London, England.
1990 “Uluslararası Erotik Sanat [International Erotic Art]” Exhibition. Atatürk Cultural Center. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1988-89 “International St. Jakob Workshop.” Vienna, Austria.
1988-89 “Fluxus” Group Exhibition. Fluxus Gallery. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1988 “Second Asia-European Biennale.” Ankara, Turkey.
1986 “First Asia-European Biennale.” Ankara, Turkey.
1982-84 “Dünden Bugüne [From Yesterday to Today].” Görsel Sanatçilar Derneği [Visual Artists Association] Exhibitions. Cyprus Turkish Airlines Exhibition Hall. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1973-85 Geleneksel “Atölye” Sergileri [Traditional “Studio” Exhibitions]. Istanbul, Turkey.
1972-73 “Kıbrıslı Beş Genç Ressam [Five Young Cypriot Painters].” Darül Şafaka Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey.
SELECTED AWARDS
1988 Turkish Bank Culture and Art Award. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1987 State Exhibition Award. Nicosia, North Cyprus.
1986 Talens Award. Istanbul, Turkey.
1985 Tiglat Gallery Award. Istanbul, Turkey.
1980 Turkish Embassy Competitive Exhibition, First Prize. Nicosia. North Cyprus.
Ada, Özlem. “Çizenel’s Art Life.” Interview with Emin Çizenel. Northern Cyprus Weekly. April 29, 1988.
Antmen, Ahu. “Kıbrısli Ressamın Akdeniz Tutkusu.” Cumhuriyet (Turkey), 6 June 1990, p. 11.
Antmen, Ahu. “Emin Çizenel yeni sergisiyle ses getiriyor.” Güneş (Turkey), 12 March 1990, p. 11.
Brandt, Jens Christian. “Emin Çizenels fresk ‘The First Supper’.” Dagens Nyheter. Stockholm, Sweden, 2 August 1999.
Çizenel, Emin. “Kendi resmime dair birkaç not.” Halkın Sesi. Kyrenia, North Cyprus,1987.
“Emin Çizenel Soyutlamaları.” Tercüman (Turkey) 13 March 1990, p. 5.
Erbil, Devrim. “Emin Çizenel’in Resimleri.” In Emin Çizenel ’87: Yeşilköy Art Center Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1987.
Eroğlu, Özkan. “Emin Çizenel Resmi.” Galeri Nev Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1997.
Gökhan, Halil. “Doğu Akdenizde bir sanatci.” Simgesel (Istanbul, Turkey), February 2003.
Hedwig, Michael. “Emin Çizenel-Diptych.” Galeri Nev Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1995.
Helena, Gerda. “Visby Exhibition.” Gotlands Tidningar, 23 May 2003.
Hughes, Glyn. “Emin Çizenel at Argo Gallery.” The Cyprus Weekly, 6 February, 2004.
Hughes, Glyn. “Emin Çizenel at Kazafana.” The Cyprus Weekly, 17 March 2000.
Köksal, Ahmet. “Yeni Çıkışlar ya da İlk Sergi.” Milliyet Sanat Dergisi March 1, 1978, p. 48.
“Kyrenia Painters’ ‘International Recognition’.” Northern Cyprus Weekly. September 13, 1986, p. 4.
Marangou, Niki. “Emin’s Taps.” Philelefteros, 7 February, 2004.
Onar, Anber. “Letter—Chosen Tree.” Kültür-Sanat, March 2003, p. 3.
Onar, Anber. “Excavating Visions.” Babelmed.net: the Mediterranean Cultures Site. Babelmed Cultural Association. “Mediterranean Meeting Points” program/European Union/European Cultural Foundation. http://www.babelmed.net. February 1, 2003.
Özsezgin, Kaya. “Baydur Kolleksiyonu Çizenel ve Durmuş un yeni resimleri.” Milliyet Sanat Dergisi November 15, 1987, p. 50.
Özsezgin, Kaya. “Abstract-Symbolic Projections of Life.” Atatürk Cultural Center Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1992.
Pillai, Johann. “Wounds and Sutures: Sigalit Landau and Emin Çizenel on the Border”/“Yaralar ve Dikişler: Sigalit Landau ve Emin Çizenel Sınırda.” Published in English, and in a Turkish translation by Nilay Ertuğalp, with twelve pages of color plates. EMAA Art Journal/Sanat Dergisi. (European-Mediterranean Art Association, North Cyprus). 2005 October; Volume 1, Issue 4, pp. 40-94.
Schiz, Marina. “Argo Exhibition.” Philelefteros, 20 January, 2004.
Tansuğ, Sezer. “Emin Çizenel.” Yapı Kredi Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1992.
“Tortured Modernist.” Northern Cyprus Weekly. March 2, 1987, p. 3.
Tunalı, İsmail. “Emin Çizenel’s Pictorial Art.” Galeri Nev/Atatürk Cultural Center Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1992.
Tunalı, İsmail. “Emin Çizenel Resim Sergisi.” Yapı Kredi Gallery Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, 29 March 1990.
Yasa Yaman, Zeynep. “Acı Limonlar Adasinda bir sanatcı.” Galeri Nev Exhibition Catalog. Istanbul, Turkey, 1998.
The voyage of my painting, as can be seen in series such as “Stories from the Mediterranean” and “The Colonial Period,” is one of discovery, where encounters with new aspects of objective reality shape and reshape new interpretations of my world. Each series documents physical and mental impressions related to some lived experience, and each questions the nature of my own individual existence. My synthesis of aesthetic concepts in the process of working physical material in specific geographical contexts, thus produces an enigmatic object that in various ways both reveals and conceals the question of my own identity. I see the continually reiterated questions of “how?” and “why?” on the one hand as reflecting tired philosophies, but on the other, as being necessary if one is to interrogate one’s dependence or independence in relation to existence or non-existence, and to such concepts as “truth” or “honesty.” In my work, everyday realities are inverted or collaged to create hypothetical adventures and propositions pointing to new aesthetic possibilities. My sensitivity to the chemistry of the physical materials I use generates the paths I follow in this geography in a very individual way: I travel along the transcendental surfaces of abstract color stains, and rest at the point where painting is no longer a narrative, but a space of self-exploration. In this space, my experiences and memories function as traces, physical or hypothetical, that indicate the possibility of establishing forms of reality in the space of its absence, These forms are repeated in different contexts, generating a mythological dialectic of identity.
Emin Cizenel was born in Mallia, Cyprus, and completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Istanbul Fine Arts Academy. He has participated as artist-in-residence in programs in Turkey and Vienna and as a Fulbright Fellow in New York; and since the 1970s he has been working as an independent professional artist, presenting his work in some 28 solo and 29 group exhibitions. His works have appeared in international and local exhibitions/biennials in countries including Cyprus, England, Turkey, Sweden, Austria, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Germany and the United States.
