Contemporary artist Melek Anqi’s popular cat character Hiromita meets the residents of Ankara at Deppo29, a beloved venue, in a new exhibition. Titled “Hiromita,” the exhibition features wild and adorable Hiromita cat paintings that inspire viewers to embrace differences and have the courage to be themselves.
Deppo29, a beloved art and cultural venue in Ankara, brings together Ankara art lovers and Turkish artist of Taiwanese origin Melek Anqi’s famous character Hiromita with a special exhibition. The “Hiromita” exhibition, which will take place at Deppo29 Art Gallery from April 27 to May 24, 2023, reminds us that what makes us unique and beautiful is our differences, and by embracing these differences, or in other words, finding true belonging by being true to ourselves.
Melek Anqi, who spent her childhood in Taiwan and Turkey and completed her master’s degree at Yale University in the United States, aims to create a common experience that transcends cultural boundaries and brings people together through her art. Through her Hiromita character, the artist tells a story of “belonging to oneself.”
Inspired by “tile cats/wamao” sculptures that are placed on rooftops in China to protect homes and comics that she learned in Chinese during her childhood in Taiwan, Hiromita met art lovers in New York last summer. Melek Anqi, who created a special Hiromita collection for the global fintech company CoolBitX in January, is excited to introduce Hiromita to Turkish art lovers. Melek Anqi, who wants to give hope to all children and adults who feel different through the Hiromita series, says that when creating Hiromita, she imagined a character who doesn’t change herself to fit in, still wants to be loved and have relationships with people, especially a character with an unchanging face.
Various materials such as acrylic, pastel, ink, and fabric and a variety of colors stand out in Hiromita paintings, while the fixed face of the character creates an interesting contrast with this diversity. Hiromita, who has a wild expression that remains unchanged despite the changing materials and color palette used in the works, reminds viewers of the importance of staying true to oneself and not changing oneself to be loved and accepted. The message is that having the courage to stay true to oneself and forming authentic connections with others will eliminate the void that arises within us in modern life.
In the Cultural and Art Destination of Ankara
Deppo29, the cultural and art destination of Ankara, offers a unique Ankara story to its visitors with its impressive interior design, monthly updated exhibitions, weekend workshops, special concerts and delicious cuisine options. The Hiromita exhibition will be opened on April 27th at Deppo29 Art Gallery located within the venue. Deppo29, expressing their excitement to host Melek Anqi’s Hiromita exhibition in their art galleries, shared that after the exhibition opening at 18:30 on Thursday, April 27th, art enthusiasts could make a reservation to watch the popular “A Jazz Tribute to The Beatles” live performance at the venue at 20:00.
The “Hiromita” Exhibition will take place between April 27th and May 24th, 2023 at Deppo29 Art Gallery in Kavaklıdere, Ankara. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Melek Anqi’s Hiromita, and get inspired by her self-discovery and courage journey.
About Artist Melek Anqi
Melek Anqi Kocasinan (高安琪) is a contemporary artist of Turkish-Taiwanese origin, known for her mixed-media artworks and her character “Hiromita”. The artist completed her Master’s degree at Yale University in the United States and also received education in fashion design and illustration. Her works have been exhibited in various international exhibitions and fairs, including New York, Istanbul, and Seoul, as well as at Contemporary Istanbul. Melek Anqi discovered her interest in art as a child in Taiwan, where she drew Chinese characters like they were pictures. As an artist who encountered Asian art at a young age, she was also influenced by Taiwan’s popular culture, which was full of colorful anime and manga characters. The artist, who is one of the notable young representatives of contemporary Asian art, continues her work mainly between Turkey, the United States, and Taiwan. Her works have been featured in various publications such as Robb Report, Elle, Art Emperor, Onedio, Anadolu Agency, Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture website, Milliyet Sanat, Oggusto, and Para Magazine. Hiromita was exhibited for the first time in New York at the NowHere Gallery in 2022. At the beginning of 2023, the artist created a special Hiromita collection for the global fintech company CoolBitX. The collection was launched as a brand-artist collaboration that increased the artist’s international recognition. Recently, Hiromita, which was exhibited for the first time in Turkey at the ARTAnkara Contemporary Art Fair and received great interest, is meeting art lovers in Ankara with a special exhibition at the Deppo29 Art Gallery called “Hiromita”. In September, the artist will also exhibit a special Hiromita selection with South Korean AB Gallery Korea at Contemporary Istanbul.
(Artist IG: www.instagram.com/melek.anqi)
Deppo29: http://www.deppo29.com/ (IG: https://www.instagram.com/deppo29/) Deppo29, a cultural and artistic destination in Ankara, offers a unique Ankara story with its impressive interior design, monthly updated exhibitions, and workshops hosted on weekends. It also provides exclusive concerts and delicious food options.
Deppo29 Address: Kavaklıdere neighborhood, Kader Street (new Beyaz Zambaklar Street), No:29 Çankaya, Ankara / Reservation and Contact: 0312 427 39 68 – 0535 349 00 64
