Imge Özbilge
Imge Özbilge is a multidisciplinary artist with a multicultural background. She has lived in countries such as Austria, Spain, Turkey, the Netherlands and is currently residing in Belgium. After obtaining her BA in the Arts from the ‘Istanbul Bilgi University’, she has continued her master studies first at the ‘AKV St. Joost Academy’ in the Netherlands and subsequently at the ‘Royal Academy of Arts KASK’ in Belgium, completing her second MA. Her award winning graduation film ‘Camouflage’ has been in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.
The starting point of her work is based on research, beginning from a conceptual point following with the exploration of new visual worlds. Between 2009 and 2012 the artist was researching about the visualization of Middle Eastern Mythologies. During this process she developed a passion for Miniature Art. Between 2014 and 2016 she has been inquiring about the contemporary use of this art-form and has written her thesis ‘Contemporary Ottoman Miniatures’ on the subject matter. The surreal elements of her work are based on these myths, yet are also a reflections of her own reality.
The references to familiar cosmopolite city sceneries and historical imagery, juxtaposed with ordinary modern objects and surreal creatures make her drawings all the more fascinating, weird and wondrous.