Derya Akay Explained

Derya Akay
Birth Place:	Istanbul, Turkey
Education:	Emily Carr University of Art and Design (BFA)
Occupation:	Visual artist
Known For:	Installation art, performance art

Derya Akay (born 1988) is a Turkish artist based in Vancouver, Canada. Akay has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Canada, Japan, Mexico, U.S., and Turkey.^{[1] [2]} In 2010, Akay graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and completed a residency at the Banff Centre.^[3]

Work

Akay's artistic practice involves community organizing, gathering, cooking, food and knowledge sharing, gardening, performance, and installation.^{[4] [5]} Akay often uses tableware, textiles, food, and organic material in installations and performances with a focus on feminized and collective labour, while using intimate and domestic spaces such as kitchens, gardens, and bedrooms to showcase his work.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Akay's mother, Dilara Akay, is an activist and artist. They collaborated on Ghost Spring (2018), a work about the political upheavals in Turkey and the loss of loved ones, installed and performed at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver, Canada, in association with Grunt gallery.^[9]

Exhibitions and projects

Akay has collaborated with artists such as Haruko Okano, T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss, Julia Feyrer, and Anne Low.^[10]

• Queer Dowry (2022), What Water Knows, The Land Remembers, Toronto Biennial of Art^{[11] [12]}
• Looking at the Garden Fence (2021), with Vivienne Bessette and Garden Don't Care artist collective at Sahalli Park Community Garden, Elisabeth Rogers Community Garden, Harmony Garden X̱wemelch’stn pen̓em̓áy^[13]
• Meydan (2021), Polygon Gallery^[14]
• The Neighbours Plate (2020), with Dana Qaddah and Amna Elnour, Unit 17^[15]
• Green Grocer (2018), Unit 17^[16]
• with bread (2017), Campbell River Art Gallery^[17]
• Punice (2017), Del Vaz Projects^[18]
• Vancouver Special: Ambivalent Pleasures (2016), Vancouver Art Gallery^{[19] [20]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018-03-05 . Derya Akay, on Process, Labour and Time . 2022-03-16 . C Magazine Issue 137 Page 32 . en.
2. Web site: Unit 17 Gallery Artist Derya Akay . 2022-03-16 . unit-17 . en.
3. Web site: Derya Akay: Material Hangings, Hangouts . 2022-03-16 . Espace art actuel . 15 September 2014 . en-US.
4. Web site: 2018-03-05 . Derya Akay, on Process, Labour and Time . 2022-03-16 . C Magazine Issue 137 Page 32 . en.
5. Web site: CRITIC'S PICKS: Steffanie Ling . 2022-03-16 . Akimbo . en-US.
6. Web site: 2018-03-05 . Derya Akay, on Process, Labour and Time . 2022-03-16 . C Magazine Issue 137 Page 32 . en.
7. Web site: Berardini . Andrew . March 16, 2022 . Derya Akay: Pumice . ArtReview.
8. News: Piejko . Jennifer . 2017-03-22 . Derya Akay . en . Frieze . 186 . 2022-03-16 . 0962-0672.
9. Web site: Hennig . Clare . March 16, 2022 . Turkish mother and son explore politics, death and grief in new Vancouver art show . CBC News.
10. Web site: Looking at the Garden Fence . 2022-03-16 . Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver . en-CA.
11. Web site: Derya Akay Artist Bio . 2022-03-16 . Toronto Biennial of Art . en-US.
12. Web site: Derya Akay at Small Arms Inspection Building . 2022-03-16 . Toronto Biennial of Art . en-US.
13. Web site: Looking at the Garden Fence . 2022-03-16 . Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver . en-CA.
14. Web site: 2021-04-16 . Derya Akay: Meydan . 2022-03-16 . The Polygon . en-US.
15. Web site: 2020-11-25 . Derya Akay, Amna Elnour and Dana Qaddah: The Neighbour's Plate . 2022-03-16 . Galleries West . en-ca.
16. Web site: CRITIC'S PICKS: Steffanie Ling . 2022-03-16 . Akimbo . en-US.
17. Web site: 2017-04-15 . Derya Akay: with bread . 2023-03-18 . Galleries West . en-ca.
18. Web site: Derya Akay - Pumice . 2023-03-18 . Del Vaz Projects . en.
19. McKee . Jesse . 2016 . PRIVATE AND SOCIAL, DOMESTIC AND PROFESSIONAL INTERSECT IN AN ENERGETIC SPIRIT OF COEXISTENCE . Kaleidoscope Magazine.
20. Web site: Getting contemporary: Vancouver Special reflects state of the art in Terminal City . 2022-03-16 . vancouversun . en-CA.