Kipat—an anagram of the Turkish word 'kitap' (book)—was published on the occasion of Güçlü Öztekin’s exhibition Topsy-Turvy! Selpakla Gorili Bitirdim! at Dirimart Dolapdere (18 December 2017–21 January 2018). Gathering nearly all works produced between 2009 and 2017, the book offers the most extensive insight into the artist’s prolific practice. Much like Öztekin’s exhibitions and sketchbooks, Kipat resists explanation, placing the viewer in direct encounter with his fantastical imagery. Everyday objects and fleeting moments—a roll of toilet paper, a face, a glimmer of light—are transformed into scenes that recall cartoons, cinema, and dreamlike narratives.
Designed without hierarchy or fixed sequence, the book embodies Öztekin’s emphasis on simplicity, disorder, and openness. Each copy is uniquely ordered and numbered by the artist, inviting readers into a world where daily life and the imagination of his alter ego, kaplankadilak, collide. A dialogue on painting, process, and the ordinary accompanies this journey.
Text in English and Turkish.
