Şener Yılmaz Aslan’s work focuses on different methods of documentation. He documents human rights violations including the rights of workers, refugees, women and LGBTQIA+ people. In this practise he deals with topics such as social class contradictions, urban paradoxes and the mechanisms of discrimination. The artist uses photography and its potential to portray reality as a way to refresh society’s memory.
Aslan (°1986) was born in a remote village of Malatya in Eastern Turkey. He first studied computer programming in Mersin and afterwards Industrial Design and Photography in Marmara University Fine Arts Faculty in Istanbul. In 2020 he moved to Marseille, France to continue his work there.
His remarkable and newsworthy photographs were published by international media outlets such as Paris Match, Vice, The Guardian, BBC, The Telegraph and SoccerBible through the Paris based agency Sipa Press. His work was also exhibited in the streets of Amsterdam as part of the Pride Photo Award and at Akbank Art Gallery, Zilberman Art Gallery and Yapıkredi Art Gallery in the famous Istiklal Street in Istanbul. Aslan got selected to exhibit his work by art competitions such as Young Fresh Different, Akbank Contemporary Artists, Mamut Art Project and Rotary Art.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021
"Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize Exhibition", Istanbul
Curator: Murat Tabanlıoğlu
2021
"Pride Photo Award", Outdoor Exhibition in different places, Amsterdam
Curator: Michael Bruinvels
2020
"Hic Boyun Eger mi Insan?", Nazim Hikmet Cultural Center, Istanbul
Curator: Fırat Arapoğlu
2019
"Winter Is Coming", Merdiven Art Space, Istanbul
Curator: Hakan Çarmıklı
2019
"Fermantation", Karşı Sanat Çalışmaları, Istanbul
Curator: Artists of the Exhibition
2019
"There It Was", Daire Art Gallery, İstanbul
Curator: Yaren Akbal
2018
"Experience", Tüyap Artist 2018, İstanbul
Curator: Ezgi Bakçay
2018
"Young, Fresh, Different IX", Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul
Curator: Çelenk Bafra
2018
"Complex Plane", Merkur Gallery, Istanbul
Curator: Ipek Yeginsu
2017
"Helix", A Selection From Yapi Kredi Collections, Istanbul
Curator: Necmi Sönmez
2016
“Mamut Art Project”, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul
2014
“I am Better Than Tomorrow”, Hayaka Artı Gallery, Istanbul.
Curator: Ferhat Özgür
2014
“Gezi Opposition Movement” Krytyka Polityczna, Cieszyn, Poland
2014
“Rotary Sanat Contest Exhibition”, Elgiz Contemporary Art Museum, Istanbul
2021
"Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize Exhibition", Istanbul
Curator: Murat Tabanlıoğlu
2021
"Pride Photo Award", Outdoor Exhibition in different places, Amsterdam
Curator: Michael Bruinvels
2020
"Hic Boyun Eger mi Insan?", Nazim Hikmet Cultural Center, Istanbul
Curator: Fırat Arapoğlu
2019
"Winter Is Coming", Merdiven Art Space, Istanbul
Curator: Hakan Çarmıklı
2019
"Fermantation", Karşı Sanat Çalışmaları, Istanbul
Curator: Artists of the Exhibition
2019
"There It Was", Daire Art Gallery, İstanbul
Curator: Yaren Akbal
2018
"Experience", Tüyap Artist 2018, İstanbul
Curator: Ezgi Bakçay
2018
"Young, Fresh, Different IX", Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul
Curator: Çelenk Bafra
2018
"Complex Plane", Merkur Gallery, Istanbul
Curator: Ipek Yeginsu
2017
"Helix", A Selection From Yapi Kredi Collections, Istanbul
Curator: Necmi Sönmez
2016
“Mamut Art Project”, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul
2014
“I am Better Than Tomorrow”, Hayaka Artı Gallery, Istanbul.
Curator: Ferhat Özgür
2014
“Gezi Opposition Movement” Krytyka Polityczna, Cieszyn, Poland
2014
“Rotary Sanat Contest Exhibition”, Elgiz Contemporary Art Museum, Istanbul
Education
2021 – Actual
Aix-en-Provence School of Art in France, Art (Postgraduate)
2018 – Actual
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Photography (Postgraduate)
2009 – 2014
Marmara University, Fine Arts, Photography (Bachelor's Degree)
2007 – 2012
Marmara University, Fine Arts, Industrial Design (Bachelor's Degree)
2004 – 2006
Mersin University, Computer Programing (Associate Degree)
Awards
2021
“Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize”, Istanbul
Jury: Agah Uğur, Leyla Alaton, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Saruhan Doğan, Gönül Nuhoğlu, Derya Bigalı
2021
“Pride Photo Award”, Amsterdam
Jury: Bertan Selim, Viviane Sassen, Micha Bruinvels, Jessica Gysel, Arthur Kibbelaar
2020
“New Searches Photography Contest”, Mimar Sinan Art University, Istanbul
2018
"Young, Fresh, Different IX", Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul
Jury: Çelenk Bafra, Elizabeth Markevitch, Burçak Bingöl, Ayşe Umur, Naz Cuguoğlu
2016
“Mamut Art Projects Contest”, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul
Jury: Erinç Seymen, Ali Şimşek, Fatoş Üstek, Banu Gündoğdu, Ömer M. Koç
2014
“Rotary Art Contest”, Elgiz Contemporary Art Museum, Istanbul
Jury: Ayşegül Sönmez, Başak Şenova, Can Elgiz
Participated Workshops
2018
Kazuma Obara, Finding Your Own Way of Storytelling, FUAM, Istanbul
2013
Alessio Romenzi, Photojournalism, World Press Photo, Istanbul
2012
Samuel Aranda, Photojournalism, World Press Photo, Istanbul