Art is the best shelter where you can hide from the cruel and wild worldly people. It is the easiest and most wonderful way to spend quality time.
Ümmühan Kazanç.
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ARTEMISSE: Can you share your journey into the world of art and curation? What inspired you to start your blog and online magazine about artists?
ÜMMÜHAN: I studied Archeology and Art History at university. I decided archeology wasn't for me. The year I graduated, I started working at Antik Decor Magazine of Antik A.Ş., an auction and art publishing company. It was an experience that perfectly matched the art history education I received at university. I made a deep entry into the art world with interviews with artists, articles about art movements, and articles about exhibitions. With the increasing interest in contemporary art, we decided to publish Artam Global Art and Design magazine. After working for this magazine for many years, I decided to work from home to be more involved with my daughter's education and opened my blog called Art Column in 2013. By this time, I had met many artists and art academics. Art had now become a part of my life. I couldn't live without doing something art related and thus my blog was born. In 2024, we opened our website with a friend of mine in order to further develop the blog. We also publish interviews with artists in their workshops on our YouTube channel called Art Column. We also share current art news on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
ARTEMISSE: How do you select the artists and events featured on your platform? What qualities or stories draw your attention?
ÜMMÜHAN: It is very important for me that artists first develop their own style. We try not to include artists who imitate other artists in our interviews and articles. Of course, it is very important that works of art examine a concept, have a philosophy, and have a theme. It is very important that the works are designed and produced as if they would be included in a museum or an important collection, rather than being intended for sale.
ARTEMISSE: What role do you believe curators play in shaping the art world today?
ÜMMÜHAN: It is not possible for me to define myself as a curator. I'm an Art Editor, and I don't even present myself as an art writer. But curators are of great importance. Artists who take part in particularly important curated exhibitions are considered successful artists. I also think that curators contribute significantly to the conceptual development of artists, as they invite artists to work on a concept in the exhibitions they organize.
ARTEMISSE: How do you balance your responsibilities as a curator, blogger, and interviewer?
ÜMMÜHAN: As I mentioned in the previous question, it is not possible for me to consider myself a curator. Curating requires a completely different notion of education. I did my master's degree in Media Arts at the University of Nottingham in England. I am an Art Editor with an art history background. The selection of the artists we try to feature on our website and YouTube channel can be considered as curation in a sense. Sometimes, when you interview an artist or write a review about him, that artist can stand out in the market. My duty here, as a Publication Coordinator working mainly on art, is to introduce or describe the artist in the most accurate way, in a way that will not harm the artist's career.
ARTEMISSE: What challenges have you faced in maintaining your blog and online magazine, and how have you overcome them?
ÜMMÜHAN: The most difficult part of keeping a blog and website alive is financial support. I also work as an editor of art books. I use most of the income I earn from here to develop our website. Additionally, if you have quality content, you can receive advertising from various art institutions and companies that support art. In this way, we can ensure the continuity of our website and YouTube channel.
ARTEMISSE: Can you describe a particularly memorable interview or event that had a lasting impact on you?
ÜMMÜHAN: In fact, incredible memories accumulate after each interview. If you ask about one interview in particular, it is impossible for me to forget the conversations we had at various times with Mr. İlber Ortaylı, one of the most important Historians of our country. The smartest and most knowledgeable person I have ever met in my life.
ARTEMISSE: How do you stay informed about emerging trends and movements in the art world?
ÜMMÜHAN: It is very easy to get information nowadays. I regularly read the world's and Turkey's most important online art publications every day. This way I don't miss any news.
ARTEMISSE: As someone deeply immersed in the art community, how do you think digital platforms have changed the way we experience and engage with art?
ÜMMÜHAN: Digital platforms are very, very important. Every day you encounter a new artist with a different technique. I am very nourished by digital platforms.
ARTEMISSE: What advice would you give to young artists trying to gain visibility in the competitive art world?
ÜMMÜHAN: It is very important for them to develop their own art style. They need to accept that they can never exist in the art community by imitating other artists. If they have the opportunity, they should regularly spend plenty of time in places such as museums and art galleries. They should also not learn how to write a very good resume, and they should learn to apply to art galleries and art institutions with a perfect portfolio.
ARTEMISSE: What role does storytelling play in your interviews and curation? How do you approach crafting a narrative for your audience?
ÜMMÜHAN: It is very important that the artist and his works have a story rather than the story I create. I wouldn't prefer to interview an artist who doesn't have a story anyway. If you have interviewed an artist who has a story, the words to tell it suddenly flow from your thoughts to the computer screen.
ARTEMISSE: How do you view the relationship between traditional art forms and contemporary digital art?
ÜMMÜHAN: As someone who studied archaeology, I would like to give this example. We are currently living in a completely different world with AI and VR in many parts of the world. Technology has entered every aspect of our lives. But on the other hand, there are still primitive tribes in Africa. They don't even know about the existence of television. In every period of world history, societies at different levels of development have lived at the same time. This is how I look at the relationship between traditional art and contemporary digital art. Both will continue to live at the same time, sometimes unaware of each other, sometimes watching each other from afar.
ARTEMISSE: What do you think the art world will look like in the next decade? Are there any trends you’re particularly excited about?
ÜMMÜHAN: Of course, digital art will gain even more importance in the next decade. But the digital art market will become even more complex. We will be talking much more about issues such as the uniqueness of works, how to protect copyrights, and how to organize digital art museums.
ARTEMISSE: Can you share a glimpse into your creative process when preparing content for your magazine?
ÜMMÜHAN: The creative process has a lot to do with your knowledge and what you record in your visual memory. When I prepare a topic or a headline, I take a long look at the visual library in my brain.
ARTEMISSE: What are your personal goals for the upcoming year? Are there any specific projects or collaborations you're excited about?
ÜMMÜHAN: We have many projects related to our Art Column website and Youtube channel. We need to expand our team for these projects. We are currently working on the budget. We are about to find the financial resource. We will announce our projects as soon as possible.
ARTEMISSE: Thank you very much for joining us for such an insightful and inspiring interview. We wish you luck and exciting projects within your mission to present the true talents of today's art stage to the world.
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