UWAW
UWAW (UnderWaterArtWorks) is an independent art initiative that held its inaugural exhibition in 2001.
It was established with the objective of highlighting topics such as the destructive impact of human activities on nature, underwater life, and water pollution. In 2011, the group organized its first exhibition titled “We Cooked the Sea” featuring four artists. The exhibition took place in the Bodrum district of Muğla and later in the Kaş district of Antalya.
Pioneering the introduction of ceramic sculptures underwater, UWAW became the first group in the world to explore the richness, allure, and fragility of the underwater environment through this artistic medium. Over the years, artists from various disciplines have joined the group, expanding its reach and influence. Despite its growth, the initiative remains committed to its founding purpose. In response to the global focus on climate change and subsequent environmental disasters, UWAW has evolved into an internationally recognized art initiative.
A founding member of the group, Nezir İçgören has started to take part in exhibitions as an artist since2004.
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Related Works
Opened in 2005 in Asmalımescit, Beyoğlu, the ceramics studio is now concluding its journey with its final project, APARLO. The studio has been instrumental in producing projects for the independent artist initiative UWAW.ORG (UnderWaterArtWorks) and has also provided a space for artists from various disciplines. APARLO, created from casting slip and fired at 1050 degrees Celsius, is a limited edition piece with only 70 copies.
The UWAW (UnderWaterArtWorks) team is gathering around a different theme this time. They have come together to draw attention to the lives lost while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in the hope of a better life after being displaced for various reasons. In the video they co-produced, hundreds of bubbles rising from the seabed represent the last breaths, cries, and rebellions of refugees who lost their lives while crossing the Mediterranean.