özlem altın: An Exploration of Photographic Archives and Layered Narratives
özlem altın (born 1977) is a German and Turkish visual artist currently residing in Berlin, Germany. Her artistic journey began at the Hochschule für die Künste Köln, where she honed her foundational skills before pursuing an MA degree from the Piet Zwart Institute in Amsterdam—a pivotal experience that instilled in her a deep appreciation for photographic documentation and its capacity to convey complex narratives. The institute’s focus on visual storytelling profoundly shaped her approach to artmaking, fostering a fascination with how images interact and transform over time. This formative period cemented her conviction that photography possesses the unique ability to illuminate hidden dimensions of reality and provoke critical reflection.
Following graduation, altın received invaluable support from the Fonds BKVB, the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture, which enabled her to establish Orient Press—an independent publishing platform dedicated to showcasing artist books and disseminating her distinctive vision. Recognizing the limitations of conventional gallery spaces in fostering artistic dialogue, Altin championed the book form as a crucial medium for expanding creative horizons and reaching wider audiences. This commitment to publishing embodies not merely a professional aspiration but also a profound belief in the transformative potential of art beyond institutional confines.
Her work centers around an expansive archive comprised of her own photographs alongside found images sourced from diverse origins—museum collections, the internet, and mass media. Rather than presenting these materials as static representations, altın actively engages with them through meticulous collage techniques, photographic manipulations, and painting processes. This deliberate intervention transforms the archive into a dynamic constellation of imagery, prompting viewers to consider “what is happening in between the images.” It’s this conceptual layering—the acknowledgement of hidden connections and unspoken narratives—that defines her artistic practice. Altin's method involves carefully selecting and juxtaposing disparate visual elements, creating intricate compositions that challenge conventional perceptions of space and time.
A guest professor at Hochschule Leipzig (2020-2021) and Umprum Prague (2023), altın continues to share her expertise and inspire emerging artists, furthering the dialogue about contemporary photographic art and its role in shaping cultural understanding. Her exhibitions include “Finding connections between her layers of photomontage and ink, the artist prompts viewers to create narratives by “acknowledging what is happening in between the images.” which debuted at MoMA in 2020, establishing her as a prominent voice within the international art scene. Altin’s artistic explorations delve into themes of body and memory—concepts interwoven throughout her oeuvre. Her work speaks to the enduring power of visual imagery to capture fleeting moments and evoke profound emotional responses. Ultimately, özlem altın's contribution lies in her ability to transform commonplace images into vehicles for contemplation and narrative creation, inviting audiences to engage actively with the complexities of human experience.
Her artistic explorations delve into themes of body and memory—concepts interwoven throughout her oeuvre. Altin’s work speaks to the enduring power of visual imagery to capture fleeting moments and evoke profound emotional responses. Ultimately, özlem altın's contribution lies in her ability to transform commonplace images into vehicles for contemplation and narrative creation, inviting audiences to engage actively with the complexities of human experience.
Altin studied at the ArtEZ Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Arnhem from 2000 to 2003 and at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam between 2004 and 2006. Recent solo exhibitions include *Lens*, Merano Arte (Meran, 2019); *Processing*, Camera Austria, Graz (2017); *Untitled (Touch or Melancholy)*, Lentos, Linz (2016); *No story, no,* Witte de With, Rotterdam (2015). Her work has been included in important group shows such as *The Milk of Dreams*, 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (2022); *Tongues of Time*, Villa Romana, Florence (2021); *Companion Pieces: New Photography 2020*, MoMA online (2020); *Part of the Labyrinth*, Göteburg International Biennial for Contemporary Art (Gothenburg, 2019); *We don't need another hero*, 10th Berlin Biennale (2018); *Beyond Words*, 4th Mardin Biennial (2018); *Cosmology of the Boundless*, Museion Bolzano (2017). Özlem Altın was awarded by the city of Berlin, the Hannah Höch Förderpreis and a solo exhibition to be held at Berlinische Galerie in 2024.
