Abstract

Conceptual Art emerged in the 1960s and displayed an entirely idiosyncratic structure as compared to those years’ prevailing form pursuits. It involved the art object in an intellectual process rather than a structural process. This very understanding, which keeps its distance from art object and prioritizes the artists’ ideas, enables the artists to express themselves by exploiting all kinds of materials. Similar tendencies became manifest in Turkey during the end of 1970s. Some Turkish artists returned back to the country after completing their studies abroad and with the occasion of biennials they became effective in the scene of conceptual art. Each of these artists produced individually important conceptual artworks, which represent their own time. This research is focused on Cengiz Çekil, who is an important representative of Conceptual Art in Turkey, the period when Conceptual Art emerged, its leading artists back then and their works. Furthermore, this paper includes the examination of Cengiz Çekil’s works which carry the social and cultural traces of his time, his interviews, art perception and both his position and importance in today’s Conceptual Art. Based on the existing examples the literature has been reviewed and the artist’s works have been analysed. When it comes to Conceptual Art in Turkey, one of the first names that come to mind is Cengiz Çekil. For, by means of the unique mentality he demonstrates through his ‘new’ and astonishing style, he has been one of the most prominent artists in Turkish art history.