https://www.timesofcorona.com/index.php/2021/06/16/art-edition-4-interview-with-international-gallerist-cem-aggelos-ustuner/

As a conclusion to Art Edition 4, The Times of Corona spoke to Cem Aggelos Ustuner, International Gallerist and the owner of Pinelo Art Gallery about the various events he organized amid the pandemic. We also spoke to Cem about the #MASKUARY Campaign Art Shows at London Climate Action Week 2021. Besides these, Cem also informed us about the upcoming physical art projects that he is currently working on. He also told us how artists who want to launch digital art shows or participate in international art shows can get in touch with him.

Firstly, please tell us your thoughts about COVID-19 and how you have kept yourself busy during this year. Have you been able to organize any events amid the lockdowns this year?

Amid the second wave, the number of COVID-19 cases rose in Turkey, with our country currently ranking #5 in the world according to John Hopkins Coronavirus tracker. Lockdowns have been instituted several times during this year too.  

However, as soon as the lockdown was lifted in the beginning of June, I held a physical group art show titled “Give to Corona” at my art gallery in Istanbul for five artists – Semine Hazar, Fatma Kadir, Selva Ozelli, Ilhan Sayin, and Ismail Soysal. All these will donate the proceeds from the sale of their 20 paintings to coronavirus-related causes. This is an opportunity for art lovers to purchase award-winning artwork and also donate to a cause.

Alongside in-person art shows in Istanbul, these artists also held digital art shows at various United Nations events, including World Environment Day on June 5,  World Oceans Day on June 8, the Oceanic Global Art Show, and World Desertification and Drought Day on June 17.

I am proud that seven #Maskuary Campaign and coronavirus themed digital art shows I produced will be on exhibit at London Climate Action Week (LCAW) from June 26 to July 4, 2021, once again with the support of CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change.

Can you tell us more about the seven #Maskuary Campaign and coronavirus themed art shows you produced for #LCAW2021? Who are artists you assisted and what has been the underlying theme of the work amid the pandemic?

I assisted 4 artists – Semine Hazar, Fatma Kadir, Selva Ozelli, and Ilhan Sayin – launch seven digital art shows with  paintings  that have been acknowledged in numerous United Nations art competitions exhibited at LCAW2021.

With these art shows, the artists set out to raise awareness of a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature is critical to our survival: it provides us with our oxygen, our water, regulates our weather patterns, pollinates our crops, produces our food, feed and fiber. But it is under increasing stress, subject to extreme weather events. It is ubiquitously known that human activity has altered almost 75 percent of the earth’s surface, squeezing wildlife and nature into an ever-smaller corner of the planet. The pandemic has made matters worse by producing an enormous amount of single use plastic medical waste.

With their art shows, these artists remind us that we must guard nature by changing our production and consumption habits towards a cleaner and greener existence, particularly in light of the global coronavirus pandemic. These artists also join TiredEarth.com’s #Maskuary​ Campaign which aims at warning against the dangers of pollution from disposable masks to the environment.

Are there any upcoming physical art projects that you are currently working on?

Well, there is still considerable uncertainty concerning these projects as they can be cancelled due to the pandemic, but I am tentatively planning on holding physical international art shows as follows:

• July 16 – 26: Bulgaria Graphic Festival
• September 10 – 17: in collaboration with Jyunten Art Gallery an art show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum
• November 25-28: Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair
• December 1-5: Miami Art Show

Finally, please tell us how artists who want to launch digital art shows or participate in international art shows can get in touch with him. 

I can be reached on my Website, Facebook, and Instagram as well as the following address:

Cem Ustuner, Owner of Pinelo Art Gallery
Pinelo Art Gallery
Address:  Ergenekon, 4 2 16, Halaskargazi Cd., 34373 Şişli/İstanbul
Phone:  90 212 249 78 71
Email:  info@pineloartgallery.com