Anna Laudel Düsseldorf will host the first comprehensive solo exhibition in Europe by the artistic duo Ertuğrul Güngör and Faruk Ertekin, titled “Fired Together: From One Clay, Two Vessels Form” from April 4 to June 7, 2025. This captivating exhibition reimagines the art of ceramics by fusing traditional craftsmanship with modern design elements. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of traditional ceramic art, Güngör and Ertekin create works that explore harmonies and dualities, offering a striking interplay of contrasts and unions. This exhibition not only showcases their artistic synergy but also marks a pivotal chapter in their careers.
Both artists grew up in Kütahya, a city celebrated for its rich cultural heritage and long-standing ceramic traditions. Drawing deeply from this legacy, they use ceramics to investigate themes of identity, heritage, culture, memory, belonging, and transformation. At the core of their practice lies a profound use of ceramics as a vehicle for emotional and cultural expression, blending traditional motifs with contemporary figures to craft works that resonate across time—honouring both the past and the present.
Their new works delve into the personal harmonies and dualities they experience, reinterpreting traditional Kütahya tile motifs, Ottoman aesthetics, Christian iconography, and mythological narratives. Inspired by the figurative depictions and icons crafted by Armenian artisans who once lived in Kütahya, they have created a selection of approximately 15 pieces of varying scales, all unified by a recurring motif: vases engulfed in flames. These evocative works symbolize transformation and rebirth, conveyed through both their visual and conceptual aspects.
The title, “Fired Together: From One Clay, Two Vessels Form” points to two intertwined themes that make up the essence of the exhibition. “Fired Together” represents fire’s transformative power in shaping ceramics, while also serving as a metaphor for both material change and the artists’ shared journey of growth and collaboration. “From One Clay, Two Vessels Form” describes the shaping of two vases from one clay. This phrase emphasizes the journey of artists, who grew up in the same geography and cultural background, thus shaped from the same clay, as they become distinct individuals and highlights their unity within these differences.
With their innovative and unique perspective, Ertuğrul Güngör and Faruk Ertekin bring fresh dynamism to the art world. “Fired Together: From One Clay, Two Vessels Form” will be on view at Anna Laudel Düsseldorf from April 4 to June 7, 2025.