A 12,000-Year Journey Between History and Art: "Göbekli Tepe" Exhibition by Hatice Saka

A 12,000-Year Journey Between History and Art: “Göbekli Tepe” Exhibition by Hatice Saka

Artist Hatice Saka (HASAKA) brings together her admiration for Göbekli Tepe — regarded as the zero point of human history — with her academic background in her first solo exhibition. Titled “Connecting with Twelve Thousand Years Ago,” this exhibition reinterprets the layers of the past through contemporary art, offering a fresh perspective for today’s audience.

A Journey Uniting Art and Archaeology

Hatice Saka shapes her artistic production not only with aesthetic concerns but also with a strong historical and cultural consciousness. After encountering Göbekli Tepe in 2013, she was deeply influenced not only by the symbols of this ancient site but also by its spatial planning, architecture, and spirit.

Tarihle sanat arasında 12 bin yıllık bir yolculuk hatice saka’dan “göbekli tepe” sergisi (7)

In her interview, she expresses this connection with the following words:

“Göbekli Tepe is a highly advanced culture. Working on it brings me immense joy. It’s not just stone — it’s history, spirit, humanity.”

Saka’s artistic approach is shaped by a consciousness that perceives an archaeological site beyond its surface forms. With a background in restoration, she maps Göbekli Tepe from an aerial perspective and then translates these plans into her paintings and three-dimensional works. This multi-layered approach brings both historical depth and a contemporary interpretation to her art.

Tarihle sanat arasında 12 bin yıllık bir yolculuk hatice saka’dan “göbekli tepe” sergisi (6)

Tarihle sanat arasında 12 bin yıllık bir yolculuk hatice saka’dan “göbekli tepe” sergisi (4)

What’s in the Exhibition?

29 Artworks – Multidisciplinary pieces created using oil paint, acrylic, collage, sculpture, and mosaic techniques.
Sustainable Art – Mosaics made from recycled paper and matboard waste.
Industrial Materials – Contemporary sculptures crafted from unconventional materials like steel, polyester, and industrial bricks.
Wall Sculptures & 3D Works – The exhibition features not just two-dimensional pieces but also three-dimensional forms that engage physically with the space and the viewer.

The artist transforms the traditional notion of “painting,” offering a powerful visual language rich in associations. The works in the exhibition reinterpret Göbekli Tepe’s T-shaped monoliths, abstracted blueprints, cultural motifs, and symbols, reconstructing them in new forms.

Tarihle sanat arasında 12 bin yıllık bir yolculuk hatice saka’dan “göbekli tepe” sergisi (5)

Göbekli Tepe: A Symbol of Collective Memory

This exhibition is not just an art event—it is also a narrative that brings to light the ancient memory carried by the lands of Anatolia. As Hatice Saka expresses:

“My aim is to make the history of these lands visible. This is what I wanted to convey. I want people to see not just shapes when they look, but the traces of a culture.”

In this context, the exhibition demonstrates how art can intersect with historical narratives and how the past can inspire today’s aesthetic and intellectual world.

Exhibition Details

Date: April 5–12, 2025
Venue: ARTHAN GALLERY
Arap Cami Mahallesi, Kardeşim Sokak, Kurşunlu Han No: 47/7, 34421 Beyoğlu / Istanbul
Admission: Free

Tarihle sanat arasında 12 bin yıllık bir yolculuk hatice saka’dan “göbekli tepe” sergisi (1)

About the Artist – Hatice Saka (HASAKA)

Hatice Saka began her artistic career with training in restoration before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in painting and sculpture, followed by a master’s in art and design. She is currently advancing her practice at the doctoral level. Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, the artist merges traditional materials with innovative techniques, constructing her art through intellectual inquiries into history, identity, and space.