The NEXT PERA ART GALLERY in Galata, which opened its doors to the art world in October, hosted the exhibition “Duyumsa,” featuring various art disciplines such as painting, photography, ceramics, and sculpture. The international artists participating in the collective exhibition were presented through a grand opening cocktail that included dance performances, artistic performances, poetry, paintings, as well as theatrical performances and academic presentations. H. Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, a theater instructor with expertise in contract management in sectors such as information technologies, energy, and others, who has represented Turkey in various continents and countries through 18 solo oil and acrylic mixed technique painting exhibitions, presented her works with theatrical presentations and dances.
MIM CHI 360 dances by the artist have been showcased internationally, including a performance in Guangzhou, China, broadcasted on Chinese TV in December 2018. These dances are a culmination of H. Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s interactions with indigenous people, tribes, and various dance organizations on five continents during her world travels, resulting in the “Cigdem Yorgancioglu MIM CHI 360 Drama Dance Theatre Math Philosophy.” This interdisciplinary project aims to bring the language of the peaceful warrior to the forefront through theatrical drama dance forms, countering societal alienation and polarizing language patterns.
The opening of the Karma exhibition on November 21 coincided with the visible appearance of the four bright stars forming the body of the Pegasus constellation, with Saturn and the Moon appearing close to each other. The opening performance, part of the MIM CHI 360 ENIGMA series, commenced with the first part of the cocktail dance, themed around Fire and Cosmology in the sky. Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu presented a stage show filled with imagination about the discovery and rediscovery of fire throughout the ages, sending all the energy to the Great Square and the Andromeda Galaxy in line with the special sensation of the day and cosmic time.
The second part of the artist’s performance during the exhibition openings was a rendition of the Phantom of the Opera, a dance depiction telling the story of Modernist Digital Incomplete Wisdom and Ethnic Ignorance. The MIM CHI 360 ENIGMA series by Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu explores themes such as Transition, Volatility, Flow, Uncertainty, Complexity, Resilience, Ambiguity, Balance, and Harmony, enriching the dance performance with special paradigm and cosmic enigma transitions.
In addition to employing creative techniques, codes, and puzzles similar to anagrams in her paintings and literary works, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu incorporated riddles into her dance, emphasizing the dilemmas of modern humans. After the dance, the artist engaged in colorful and interactive conversations with the valuable artists and visitors at the Karma exhibition.
Among the attendees of the exhibition were retired Ambassador Uğur Ergun, and in the upcoming weeks, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu and Ambassador Ergun will conduct interviews on global art and the unifying nature of art at Cigdem Yorgancioglu Chi Ci Talks – Art Chi Talks.
H. Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s examples from her dance and theatrical dance career include various styles and performances from ballet and modern dance to street dances, ethnic dances, and fusion dances, showcasing her versatility and global experiences.
H. Çigdem Yorgancıoğlu
Bosphorus University – Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Business Administration – Economics graduate (double major graduate). Currently, he has officially enrolled in his third university at Istanbul University, Department of Political Science and International Relations, starting from August 2023. Sworn Translator – Expert in risk assessment related to Information Technology, Telecommunications, Energy, FMCG, and General Manufacturing and Service Sector Contracts in Criminal and Legal Courts – Diplomatic media member (see Diplomatic Interviews) – Supplier Auditor – Contract (Commercial) Risk & Corporate Consultant, Educator, Boğaziçi University, Haliç University, Bahçeşehir University, Trakya University, Düzce University, etc. He has given seminars as a Visiting Professor at universities, both in Turkey and abroad (e.g., link to a YouTube video). Motivational Speaker. World Traveler (Visited a total of 107 countries as of December 2018) – Painter and Theatrical Performance Artist. Author – Certified Diver (PADI –Advanced Level) – Licensed Swimmer (Boğaziçi University Swimming Team – Turkcell Swimming Team). Fossil shark collector, Energy Newspaper, Law and Economy, Newspaper Economy BTHaber, International Policy Academy columnist. Member of MSG – Musicians Work Owners Group, National Geographic Society member, KAÇUV Volunteer, Lösev Volunteer, AFAD Volunteer, AKUT Volunteer. Social tango dancer.
With 36 years of work experience, he has held managerial positions (Foreign Trade Manager/Finance Manager) in various companies, leveraging expertise in Procurement, Supply Chain, and Contract Management. Based on his experience, he provides training and mentoring services in Turkish and English in the fields of Information Technologies, Communication, Telecommunications, Energy, Food, FMCG, Logistics, Pharmacology, Foreign Trade, and more. He covers topics such as Technical Procurement, Contract Risks, “Lifelong Change in Paradigm” modules, Creative Thinking, Adaptation to Change, Leadership, Communication, Corporate Culture, Body Language, and Breath Techniques, Persuasion and Negotiation Techniques, Advanced Negotiation Techniques and Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, Handling Difficult Customers, and Human Management, Personal and Corporate Dynamism, Logistics, Procurement Supply Chain Contract Management, International Contract Literacy, Social Media, Effective Communication Techniques in Call Centers, Stress Management, Innovation and Technology Adaptation, HR Recruitment Interview Techniques, Effective Collection Persuasion Management, Relationship and Negotiation Management in Mediation.
A world traveler who has circled five continents and also an artist representing Turkey abroad through exhibitions/performances, interviews with diplomats, ambassadors, or tribes of various civilizations. H. Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu Barış engages in various social responsibility projects related to Peace and Education, sharing her extraordinary life skills and out-of-the-box thinking, applying them in her life. The owner of the name rights of the NGO Platform called RICHLEND. Her first book, published in 2003, features poems written in memory of the Nemrut Commagene festival, and its CD and book sales revenue is allocated to education and tourism promotion in the East by the Governorship. Her second book is currently used as a textbook by 65,000 students, and its income is directed towards the educational materials and projects of these students. This book is also published as a Cultural publication by the Governorship. Yorgancıoğlu, known as the first person to apply the “Oulipo” technique using anagrams in her education, paintings, and articles, represents Turkey abroad as an artist and educator supported by the Embassy and Chamber of Commerce.
In October 2018, she moderated a panel at the international Turkey Energy Forum held at the Shangri La Hotel in Istanbul, and in November 2018, she moderated a panel at the 7th Turkey Public-Private Sector Partnerships Forum in Ankara… PPP. (Link to the article: UPA Columnist Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu Will Moderate a Panel at PPP Energy Forum 2018).
She contributed to the book “Mavi Elma: Türkiye-Avrupa İlişkileri” published by Gazi Kitabevi with articles by UPA writers, with her article “The Place of Turkey in EU Energy Policies.” In December 2018, she visited Guangzhou, China, as a guest of Peking University and Guangzhou Municipality. At an international event attended by academics and artists, she made an academic presentation broadcast live and recorded on local and national TV channels in China, discussing the positive effects of tango on world peace and friendships, especially in terms of women’s world peace and poetry. Yorgancıoğlu, who is a social tango dancer, also facilitated the translation of an English poem about tango into Chinese.
