Tutu Tugce Sonmez Arel
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Tutu Arel was born in Izmir, Turkey. Her interest in ceramics began at 2002, she spent three years at at an artists' studio before relocating to Los Angeles.
She graduated from Michigan State University with a double bachelors degree in both Studio Arts and Advertising.
She continued to indulge her creative passion and flair for ceramics by practising and studying at a number of studios. In 2018 she moved to London and launched her artist page in December 2020.
She continues her practice at her studio located in South Bank, London.
Tutu is interested in creating forms that are both functional and sculptural. Her style is rough, raw and abstract in neutral, earthy tones. Using mostly stoneware clay she takes her inspiration from nature 'mother earth', her cultural roots and her lucid dreams.
photographed by Can Koroglu
Artist Statement
My work can be characterized as layers of time and emotions stacked on top of each other. I often let the clay guide me in the direction where it identifies a range of emotions and collection of memories.
Through stimulating imagination and creating sensory experiences my work brings traces of the past into the present. Poetic and abstract forms invite the audience to engage and reflect through visual sensory; evoking the feeling of connection and inspiration. Each sculpture series aim to engage with the audience to write their own story whilst uttering a line between spirituality and materialism.
Organic shapes, textures and surface applications mimic the characteristics of nature taking its inspiration from “Gaia” and “Mother Earth”.