ISTANBUL.- On its 20th anniversary, Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Pera Museum presents Marcel Dzama, one of the distinctive names in today's art world, with his first solo exhibition in Turkey. The exhibition titled Marcel Dzama: Dancing with the Moon - With a little help from his friend Raymond Pettibon, brings together the artist’s works across a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, drawings, and film, offering art enthusiasts an opportunity to engage with Dzama’s multifaceted world. Curated by Alistair Hicks, the exhibition presents Dzama’s explorations on the themes of misgovernance, misuse of our environment, and destruction caused by wars, and can be visited until August 17.
Explore Marcel Dzama's eclectic and captivating art, from drawings to film and sculpture. Click here to purchase 'Marcel Dzama: Puppets, Pawns, and Prophets' and delve into his imaginative creations.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Pera Museum is bringing together art enthusiasts with Marcel Dzama, an artist renowned for pursuing a unique path in his artistic practice and his distinctive creative vision, with his first solo exhibition in Turkey. The exhibition titled Marcel Dzama: Dancing with the Moonlight – With a Little Help from His Friend Raymond Pettibon showcases Dzama’s works across a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, drawings, and film, and invites visitors on a captivating journey into his magical world.
Curator Alistair Hicks describes Dzama’s work as follows: “One can be overwhelmed by his work; it is ebullient and sometimes over the top like overripe poetry. It can wash over us. The artist is so keen to engage. His imagery can be very seductive.”
Dzama’s artistic practice: Multilayered and interdisciplinary
Marcel Dzama’s paintings at first sight seem like an amalgamation of stories often featuring characters familiar from popular culture or current politics. Upon closer look however, the works extensively explore subjects that have remained universal for centuries, through a visual language that demonstrates a great understanding and admiration of art history. The artist’s practice extends beyond drawing and painting, encompassing dioramas, puppetry, costume and stage design, film, music, fanzines, and sculpture. This multifaceted approach not only enriches Dzama’s narrative world but also dissolves boundaries in his artistic expression. His collaborations with figures such as Spike Jonze, Maurice Sendak, Beck, Kim Gordon, Raymond Pettibon, Bob Dylan, and the New York City Ballet further highlight his interdisciplinary perspective and wide-ranging interests.
Criticism of misgovernance, misuse of our environment, and wars at the core
The exhibition traces the three key themes prevalent throughout Dzama’s practice: Misgovernance, misuse of our environment, and destruction caused by wars. In dealing with these weighty subjects, the artist often employs a form of humor and uses chess as a metaphor, with inspiration driven from Marcel Duchamp, one of the leading figures of Dadaism. Dzama’s artistic language is not limited to criticizing political collapses and authoritarian structures; it also emphasizes the transformative, ever-evolving nature of art and its ability to engage the viewer. His collaboration with Pettibon, in this sense, reveals his interest in the collective creative process.
Collaborations with Raymond Pettibon
Within his artistic practice, Dzama places great importance not only on individual expression but also on collaborations. His joint works with his New York-based artist friend Raymond Pettibon are a significant part of the exhibition. Like two opponents on a chessboard, Dzama and Pettibon engage in a creative dialogue to bring their works to life. Dzama’s surreal characters merge with Pettibon’s political critiques, inviting viewers to reflect deeply on social issues. At the same time, these collaborations serve as a powerful example of how art can function as a space for dialogue.
The Chessboard as a metaphor for political power and social order
Among the standout works in the exhibition are four of Dzama’s videos: Infidels (2010), A Game of Chess (2011), To live on the Moon (for Lorca) (2023), and Death Disco Dance (2024). These videos explore the delicate balance between play and war, portraying the chessboard not only as a space for strategy but also as a metaphor for political power and social order. Inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s statement, “While all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.” Dzama underscores the artist’s role in society and the necessity of cultivating an intellectual strategy.
Dzama’s works explore the impact of 20th-century authoritarian regimes on artists, drawing connections to today’s political landscape. Through a grotesque visual narrative, he exposes the chaotic and destructive effects of war while examining how populist leaders manipulate the masses. His artistic practice reflects a philosophy that aligns with Albert Camus’ statement: “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
The exhibition, presented to art enthusiasts as part of Pera Museum’s 20th anniversary, can be visited until August 17.
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