ZEYNEP
KAYNAR
Zeynep Kaynar (b.1992,Turkey) is an independent visual artist living and working in Tampere, Finland. The artist uses semi-abstract and abstract visual language by adapting typographic design methods as observational tools in her fine art studio practice. Zeynep holds a Master's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design from where she also spent time as a visiting graduate student in the University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Kaynar has a list of selected exhibitions and publications, including upcoming solo exhibitions at Myymälä2 in Helsinki, Finland, and Simbart Projects in Istanbul, Turkey as well as previous group exhibitions in Istanbul, Madrid, Belgium and Copenhagen. Her works were featured by Emma Cocker, Alexander Damianisch, Cordula Daus, and Lena Séraphin in the SAR (Society of Artistic Research) Catalogue under Practice Sharing published in December 2020. Kaynar has been the recipient of several grants and subsidies, including the Alli ja Allan Salon Erillisrahasto from the Tampereen Taiteilijaseura ry in 2021 and the STEP Travel Grant from the European Cultural Foundation in 2018
Kaynar is a member of various organizations, including Globe Art Point Ry, Tampereen Taiteilijaseura Ry, and Tampere Intercultural Art Oske, and serves as a Tampere Talent Ambassador for the International House of Tampere City. She has also participated in several residencies, including the Taidekeskus KulttuuriKauppilan Residenssiohjelma in Oulu, Finland, and Thematic Residencies: Rural Tendencies Tested in Ghent, Belgium, and (Re)Union, Lisbon
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At the Kunsthaus residency, Zeynep Kaynar has been exploring the role of Swedish-speaking minorities in shaping contemporary culture and art in Helsinki. Through interviews with cultural figures, artists, and craftsmen from this minority group, Zeynep has been absorbing insights that now inform her latest painting, which will be on display during the Finnisage at Merimiehenkatu 36D.
How rare it feels to have the time to deeply engage in art and research. The studio space at Merimiehenkatu @kunsthausjagermeister has been a gift, yet I’ve realized that I didn’t get as much time as I would’ve liked to bond with my studio partners or fully immerse myself in the creative process. The studio is special, offering moments of reflection and creation, but true intimacy with the work comes from unhurried conversations and shared experiences with others. This echoes back to my time as an art student when I had the luxury of time, free from adult responsibilities, to create slowly and with intention.
Now, almost ten years into my studio practice, I find myself still longing for that slow, deliberate process. My installation at Kunsthausjägermeister will attempt to unravel this complexity, reflecting on the delicate balance between time, creation, and connection, as we navigate our personal and professional lives.
The SAPP: Postcards from Helsinki, Composition from September - October 2024
Acrylic on 297 x 140 cm Fabriano Artistico 600 gr paper , 2024, €3762