Artist Interview: Serpil Odabasi
Interview By: Aarusha Pushparajah
Serpil Odabasi is an independent artist in Toronto of Kurdish descent. Her art consists of drawings, paintings, as well as illustrations and incorporates analog and digital media.
She is an activist that participated in many human rights campaigns for the duration of her practice in Turkey. This is portrayed in her choice to incorporate themes such as: violence, sexism, and war in her art.
In addition to this, she worked as an art teacher for 10 years in high schools across Turkey. Having been featured in more than 30 exhibitions in Istanbul, Athens, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Izmir, and Toronto, Serpil Odabasi is a recognizable artist.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and went on to study Graphic Design at Toronto Film School. In conjunction with being an activist, artist, educator, and continuing learner of the arts, she is also a member of the International Activist Association.
AADN
How did you get into the arts? What piqued your interest in the visual arts?
Serpil Odabasi
My acquaintance with art dates from my childhood years, but the period during which I focused on art as a form of self-expression was in high school. It started with my motivation and need to escape from life and create a playground for myself.
AADN
What has the road to become an artist been like? Are there challenges you have experienced that you would like to share?
Serpil Odabasi
My journey to become an artist has been challenging yet equally beautiful. My political art has yielded some consequences for me, one of which is that I came to Canada.
AADN
How would you describe the art that you create?
Serpil Odabasi
Actually, I can’t define it. But I can briefly say that it is an effort to search for and understand oneself and the world.
AADN
Are there any future projects you are looking forward to that you would like to share?
Serpil Odabasi
I wish there were, but I think I’ve lost some of my motivation since I did not get a positive response regarding the grant projects I applied for here in Toronto.
AADN
Is there a part of your career as an artist that you enjoy the most?
Serpil Odabasi
Yes, for years, I did political art in my country of birth, Turkey. I held many exhibitions of my artwork. I collaborated with other artists and activists on many projects. It is a feeling that is beyond comparison: that the segments of society whose voices I tried to make heard embraced and appreciated my work during that time. I was very active as an artist; I could see that my work was not just my voice, it also represented the voices of so many people.
AADN
How do you think art empowers activists to advocate for their cause?
Serpil Odabasi
It is precious for artworks to influence life and touch people’s hearts; I’ve experienced this. When you see that your art makes a difference and ignites a public debate about certain issues and when the people whom your artwork addresses say they deeply relate to it, that really empowers you as an arti
st.
AADN
Were there any differences you would like to note between studying Fine Arts in Turkey and Graphic Design in Toronto?
Serpil Odabasi
My education on graphic design in Toronto was at a 1-year program, so the people who were taking the program other than me were already graphic designers who enrolled in the program to get degrees, not to learn. The school and teachers were unaware of and uninterested in the obstacles that a newcomer to this country would have to go through. They were doing assessment and evaluation of our performances by giving us hours of homework after just two-hour classes.
My art education at a university in Turkey lasted 4 years. The courses we took for months every year were evaluated by lecturers at the end of each semester through a two-week exam and the submission of assignments. It was in-depth art education. There are many differences between the two.
Editor: Ezel Urul
