idea manufacturer, general director of the dream factory
upcycle_istanbul The Upcycle Istanbul Art & Design Festival exhibition, curated by Erkan Doğanay, examines the relationship between nature and humanity through contemporary artistic production.
This exhibition, shaped by ecological approaches and by practices of production and transformation using waste materials, invites audiences to discover the healing power of art.
Terminal Kadıköy Platform
15–19 May
12:00–20:00
Civilization and Barbarism – Exhibition by Hüseyin Işık
Civilization and Barbarism is a poetic outcry that probes the profound ambivalence of human existence. Set between Vienna and Antakya—two cities marked by rich cultural memory—the exhibition reveals the invisible barbarism concealed beneath the polished surface of civilization. Beyond the visible violence of war and destruction, it draws attention to more insidious forms of brutality: polluted air and water, landscapes overtaken by concrete, and the silent erosion of life itself. Through works composed of concrete, tar, and acid, the exhibition materializes this tension, inviting viewers into a space of contemplation and critical reflection.
The exhibition calls on us to confront the unsettling truth behind the notion of progress. Intelligent weapons and devastated habitats expose civilization as a fragile construct—at once seductive and monstrous, a “one-toothed monstrous mouth.” In doing so, it challenges us to question the boundaries we draw between civilization and barbarism, and to imagine other possibilities: a world not built on bloodshed and concrete, but on care, dignity, and renewal.
Conceived as a gift to Vienna, Antakya, and the wider world, the exhibition extends an invitation to artists, thinkers, and cultural practitioners to reimagine humanity anew—within a horizon shaped by peace, justice, and beauty.
Civilization and Barbarism is an exhibition by Hüseyin Işık. The works portraying barbarism are created on paper and canvas using tar and asphalt—the emblematic materials of contemporary civilization. A performance and a series of installations further expand and deepen the exhibition’s visual and conceptual language.
War and Peace
19.10-15.11.2024
WELTRAUM
Schneidergasse 15, 1110 Wien
"War and Peace” is not merely an exhibition—it is a cry, a lament expressed through images. It is dedicated to those who have never known peace, born into a world of conflict. This exhibition encapsulates the history of humanity, a species that has, since its inception, seemed determined to destroy itself.
From October 19 to November 28, 2024, “War and Peace” was held at Schneidergasse No. 15 in Vienna’s 11th district, filling the entrance and basement with its powerful narrative. In the words of Hüseyin Işık:
“I have lived with war since the day I was born. The last century was defined by wars, massacres, and genocides—and this century is no different. Sometimes the war is close, just a few streets away; other times, it feels immediate through newspapers, television, and social media. My room, my studio, the bed I sleep in, the streets I walk, and the places I visit—all have become battlefields. Yet, I am not a warrior. I neither give nor take orders. I can only write and create art. True peace, I believe, will only come when humanity itself comes to an end.”
Why “Republic of Hüseyin”?
I was born in a republic I believed to be democratic and secular. Over time, with deep pain, I realized this was far from the truth.
At home, we spoke a different language than the one used on the streets. As a child, I thought every household had its own language, and the street language was simply a shared way to communicate. In school, civics classes taught us that a republic meant self-governance by the people—a concept I admired. But reality told a different story.
What kind of republic was I living in?
It was a place where people were forbidden from speaking their mother tongue or practicing their culture. Opposition was silenced, arrested, tortured, or worse. I later learned millions shared this fate, punished for their language or identity. Military coups every decade dictated every detail of life—what I could wear, when I could leave my home. The constant talk of homeland, nation, and pride turned the republic into my nightmare.
When the Turkish Republic was founded in 1923, Kurds were among its founding members, only to be denied, persecuted, and massacred soon after. For nearly a quarter-century, an Islamic party has ruled, steering Turkey toward a republic governed by Sharia law.
In 2023, as Turkey marks its 100th anniversary, I declare my own “Republic of Hüseyin” in defiance of a century of authoritarian rule. My republic exists wherever I stand. It knows no borders.
I have written my own constitution, my guide for living freely. My national anthems change with my mood. Every color of the earth is my flag. Humanity is my nation. The earth is my home.
This year also marks 20 years since I moved to Burgenland. To celebrate, I am exhibiting a selection of my artwork created here over the past two decades at the Landesgalerie Burgenland in Eisenstadt.
Join me in exploring the “Republic of Hüseyin” and experience art that challenges borders, celebrates identity, and imagines a world of peace and freedom.
Hüseyin Işık
October 2023, Eisenstadt
Constitution of the Republic of Hüseyin
Article 1: My Rebellious Freedom
I am born equal and free, the sovereign throne of my own existence.
Article 2: My Defiance Against Discrimination
I defy any discrimination based on my ethnicity, origin, skin color, gender, language, faith, beliefs, wealth, or any trait; I am the fortress of my own rights.
Article 3: My Sacred Fight for Life
My life is my sacred banner. No one dares to kill, torture, degrade, or punish me without consequence.
Article 4: The Unchained Fortress of My Mind
My thoughts, conscience, and beliefs are the untamed fortress of my rebel soul; no chain can bind them.
Article 5: My Rebellious Voice
My words, my cries, my silence—they are the echoes of my untamed will.
Article 6: My Right to Revolt and Revel
I claim the right to ignite the streets with peaceful rebellion and to revel in the taste of chocolate as I desire.
Article 7: My Borderless Rebellion
In my Republic of Hüseyin, I shatter all political borders; no map can fence my freedom.
Article 8: The Sanctity of My Solitude
My private life is a sacred temple, untouchable by any shadow.
Article 9: My Quest for Knowledge
The path to wisdom and enlightenment is mine; no one can bar my right to learn.
Article 10: The Shield of My Well-Being
I demand care for my body and soul; my health is the armor of my defiant spirit.
Article 11: My Sword of Justice
A fair trial is my sacred shield; no one can chain me with arbitrary captivity.
Article 12: My Right to Seize My Power
Any right denied or stolen from me, I will reclaim with fire and sword, with the fury of the heavens; for what is mine, no one shall withhold.