Esra Özyaşar Tosun

Surgical Ornoment

The artist portrays two types of antithesis in this piece. The first one is the transformation of the cold and sharp surface of steel from a surgical instrument to an artwork put on display with a coat of dyes and gold foil which are traditionally used on paper and ceramic surfaces. The second antithesis lies in the conflict of stories. Under the harsh academic circumstances of the era, Tosun had to give up on her dreams of studying medicine and went on to become an illumination and tile artist. She brings the instruments into contact with her handiwork made with surgical precision, overlaying the instruments with her patterns, while alluding to the sharp new direction life takes.