About | Hakkında
English
Betül Aksu (b. 1990, Izmir) explores how boundaries appear in everyday life. She focuses on notions of familiarity, repetition and categorisation, in addition to the influence of bureaucratic infrastructures on our relationship with movement, freedom and language. The artist is interested in the collaborative modes of working that initiate dialogues about precarious living and working conditions in the art world.
Betül Aksu holds a BA in Linguistics from Hacettepe University, an MSc in Cognitive Science from Trento University, an MSc in Language Science and Technology from Saarland University, and studied for a PhD in Media and Arts Technology at Queen Mary University of London. Her diverse academic background informs her approach, blending theory and practice to critique societal structures.
Betül Aksu participated in the SAHA Studio residency (2024) in Istanbul; the BAK Fellowship for Situated Practice (2023–2024) at BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht; the Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme at IKSV (2022); and the School of Commons Research Residency (2021–2022). In 2023, she founded sezon, an independent art space based in Izmir that explores the politics and poetics of change. Her recent solo exhibitions include Permessus at AVTO, Istanbul (2024), and hold, place, transfer ↵ repeat at Material, Zurich (2024).
Betül Aksu (b. 1990, Izmir) explores how boundaries appear in everyday life. She focuses on notions of familiarity, repetition and categorisation, in addition to the influence of bureaucratic infrastructures on our relationship with movement, freedom and language. The artist is interested in the collaborative modes of working that initiate dialogues about precarious living and working conditions in the art world.
Betül Aksu holds a BA in Linguistics from Hacettepe University, an MSc in Cognitive Science from Trento University, an MSc in Language Science and Technology from Saarland University, and studied for a PhD in Media and Arts Technology at Queen Mary University of London. Her diverse academic background informs her approach, blending theory and practice to critique societal structures.
Betül Aksu participated in the SAHA Studio residency (2024) in Istanbul; the BAK Fellowship for Situated Practice (2023–2024) at BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht; the Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme at IKSV (2022); and the School of Commons Research Residency (2021–2022). In 2023, she founded sezon, an independent art space based in Izmir that explores the politics and poetics of change. Her recent solo exhibitions include Permessus at AVTO, Istanbul (2024), and hold, place, transfer ↵ repeat at Material, Zurich (2024).
Türkçe
Betül Aksu (d. 1990, İzmir) günlük hayatta sınırların nasıl ortaya çıktığını inceler. Aşinalık, tekrar ve kategorizasyon kavramlarına odaklanır ve bürokratik altyapıların hareket, özgürlük ve dil ile olan ilişkimiz üzerindeki etkisini inceler. Sanat dünyalarındaki güvencesiz yaşam ve çalışma koşulları hakkında diyaloglar başlatan işbirlikçi çalışma biçimleri ile ilgilenir.
Betül Aksu Hacettepe Üniversitesi’nde Dilbilim lisansı, Trento Üniversitesi'nde Bilişsel Bilimler yüksek lisansı, Saarland Üniversitesi'nde Dil Bilimi ve Teknolojisi yüksek lisansı derecelerini tamamladı ve Queen Mary University of London’da Medya ve Sanat Teknolojisi doktora eğitimi aldı. Farklı alanlardaki akademik geçmişi, toplumsal sistemleri eleştiren teorik ve pratik perspektifleri harmanlayan yaklaşımını şekillendirir.
Betül Aksu SAHA Studio (2024), BAK Fellowship for Situated Practice (2023/2024), İstanbul Bienali Çalışma ve Araştırma Programı (2022) ve School of Commons Araştırma Programı’na (2021-2022) katıldı. 2023 yılında İzmir merkezli, değişimin politikasını ve şiirselliğini keşfetmek üzere yola çıkan bağımsız sanat alanı sezon’u kurdu. Son kişisel sergileri arasında AVTO’daki Permessus (İstanbul, 2024) ve Material’deki hold, place, transfer ↵ repeat (Zürih, 2024) yer almaktadır.
Betül Aksu (d. 1990, İzmir) günlük hayatta sınırların nasıl ortaya çıktığını inceler. Aşinalık, tekrar ve kategorizasyon kavramlarına odaklanır ve bürokratik altyapıların hareket, özgürlük ve dil ile olan ilişkimiz üzerindeki etkisini inceler. Sanat dünyalarındaki güvencesiz yaşam ve çalışma koşulları hakkında diyaloglar başlatan işbirlikçi çalışma biçimleri ile ilgilenir.
Betül Aksu Hacettepe Üniversitesi’nde Dilbilim lisansı, Trento Üniversitesi'nde Bilişsel Bilimler yüksek lisansı, Saarland Üniversitesi'nde Dil Bilimi ve Teknolojisi yüksek lisansı derecelerini tamamladı ve Queen Mary University of London’da Medya ve Sanat Teknolojisi doktora eğitimi aldı. Farklı alanlardaki akademik geçmişi, toplumsal sistemleri eleştiren teorik ve pratik perspektifleri harmanlayan yaklaşımını şekillendirir.
Betül Aksu SAHA Studio (2024), BAK Fellowship for Situated Practice (2023/2024), İstanbul Bienali Çalışma ve Araştırma Programı (2022) ve School of Commons Araştırma Programı’na (2021-2022) katıldı. 2023 yılında İzmir merkezli, değişimin politikasını ve şiirselliğini keşfetmek üzere yola çıkan bağımsız sanat alanı sezon’u kurdu. Son kişisel sergileri arasında AVTO’daki Permessus (İstanbul, 2024) ve Material’deki hold, place, transfer ↵ repeat (Zürih, 2024) yer almaktadır.
Contact | İletişim
betulaksu[at]protonmail.com
instagram.com/betulaksu
instagram.com/betulaksu
Education
2015-2020
Queen Mary University of London, PhD in Media and Arts Technology (not completed)
2014-2015
Saarland University, Master of Science in Language Science and Technology
2013-2014
University of Trento, Master of Science in Cognitive Science
2009-2013
Hacettepe University, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English Linguistics
Fellowship & Residency
06-12.2024
SAHA Studio, Istanbul
2023-2024
BAK Fellowship for Situated Practice, BAK basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht & Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)
2022
The Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV)
2021-2022
School of Commons READ Fellowship, Zürich University of the Arts
2017
AltCity Istanbul Digital Arts Residency, British Council & Zorlu PSM
Solo Exhibitions
2024
Group Exhibitions
2025
to carry, Sharjah Biennial 16, Sharjah
v,o,w,e,l,h,a,r,m,o,n,y with Memed Erdener, Hayy Open Space, Izmir
v,o,w,e,l,h,a,r,m,o,n,y with Memed Erdener, Hayy Open Space, Izmir
2024
New Lands, curated by Necmi Sönmez, Arkas Sanat Alaçatı, Izmir
2023
Sidestep/reproduced//insolently, 5533, curated by Fırat Yusuf Yılmaz, Istanbul
öncesi, sezon, İzmir
öncesi, sezon, İzmir
2022
If It Is A Garden That Has Become A Wilderness, School of Commons, Zürich
Hikayeler yürür, Kasa Gallery, curated by Emre Akaltın, Istanbul
This is not a chance encounter, Journeys Festival International, Leicester
Young Fresh Different 11, Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul
Kronos Orada Değildi, altatölye, curated by İrem Hasçiftçi Kurt, Ankara
Coulisse, Mixer, curated by Eda Öztürk, Istanbul
Hikayeler yürür, Kasa Gallery, curated by Emre Akaltın, Istanbul
This is not a chance encounter, Journeys Festival International, Leicester
Young Fresh Different 11, Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul
Kronos Orada Değildi, altatölye, curated by İrem Hasçiftçi Kurt, Ankara
Coulisse, Mixer, curated by Eda Öztürk, Istanbul
2021
Libertikons, STAMP Altonale, Hamburg
Nothing’s gonna change my world?, gr-und, Berlin
In Your Hands, Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall
Kula, Ecumene Project (online)
Nothing’s gonna change my world?, gr-und, Berlin
In Your Hands, Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall
Kula, Ecumene Project (online)
2020
Freedom of Movement?, Journeys Festival International (online)
The Garden of Forking Paths, Ars Electronica (online)
Decorating Dissidence: Take Dada Seriously? (It’s Worth It?), Guest Projects London (online)
Easy speaking & effortless listening, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London
The Garden of Forking Paths, Ars Electronica (online)
Decorating Dissidence: Take Dada Seriously? (It’s Worth It?), Guest Projects London (online)
Easy speaking & effortless listening, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London
2019
Weave It!, Stour Space, London
Plugin, Contemporary Istanbul, Istanbul
Peripheries, The Glucksman Gallery, Cork
bang.Prix, Studio-X Istanbul, Istanbul
M.I.I Manifold, TTC Architecture & Design, London
Plugin, Contemporary Istanbul, Istanbul
Peripheries, The Glucksman Gallery, Cork
bang.Prix, Studio-X Istanbul, Istanbul
M.I.I Manifold, TTC Architecture & Design, London
2017
2016
2015
Performances
2024
Global Talent, BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht
Still in my quotidian, with Siwar Kraytem, Alev Ersan and Hanieh Fatouraee, de Appel, Amsterdam
Still in my quotidian, with Siwar Kraytem, Alev Ersan and Hanieh Fatouraee, de Appel, Amsterdam
2022
Bureau of Commons - London entry, Victoria Park, London
Bureau of Commons - Venice entry, Venice, Arsenale & Giardini
officialese: from Taksim Gezi Park to Tünel and back, School of Commons, Istanbul
Bureau of Commons - Venice entry, Venice, Arsenale & Giardini
officialese: from Taksim Gezi Park to Tünel and back, School of Commons, Istanbul
2021
Bureau of Commons - Zürich entry, with the School of Commons, Zürich
2017
Here Eyes Under The Bridge, with Tara Fatehi Irani, LADA, London
Curatorial
2023
öncesi, sezon, İzmir
2022
This is not a chance encounter, Journeys Festival International, Leicester
Publications
Emir kipinden süzülerek, katlar arası, Unlimited Publications, 2024This is not a chance encounter, exhibition booklet, 2022
Adım Adım Büyücü ve Bahçe, manifold, 2022
We scan your documents on your behalf, in School of Commons Issues, 2022
Merits of Eligibility: rethinking criteria in art open calls, in School of Commons Issues, 2021
Reason: Other personal, in Researching the Researcher, published by the School of Commons, 2021
Press
s,e,s,u,y,u,m,u, Merve Akar Akgün, ArtUnlimited (TR), 2025, interview (in Turkish)Betül Aksu ve Memed Erdener - s,e,s,u,y,u,m,u - Hayy Open Space, İzmirArt, 2025, video (in Turkish)
Betül Aksu | SAHA Studio 8. Dönem | SAHA Studio 8th Term, 2024, video (in Turkish)
The Imagined Reality of Betül Aksu’s “Permessus”, Alfonse Chiu, ArtAsiaPacific (HK), 2024, review
Free Verse // Closed Circuit: The Words and Works of Betül Aksu, Amy Gowen, The Contrapuntal (NL), 2024, review
Sınır müzakereleri: Betül Aksu ile Permessus’un tahayyülü üzerine, Fırat Yusuf Yılmaz, Argonotlar (TR), 2024, interview (in Turkish)
Dilin yol boyu sezgiyle ifadesi, Burçak Fakıoğlu Yakıcı, Unlimited Publications (TR), 2024, review (in Turkish)
Yaratıcı Sürecin Değişkenleri: SAHA Studio’da Sanatçılarla Ara Dönem Buluşması, Serra Oruç, Artful Living (TR), 2024, interview (in Turkish)
Ve Diğer İşler podcast, 2024 (in Turkish)
Yaratıcı Eylem ve Sanatsal Üretim - Ezgi Bakçay & Betül Aksu, Part 1, Part 2, yermekân podcast, 2023 (in Turkish)