Inspera Bodrum Solo Sergi July 2024

Is the Secret of Jewelry Designer Ali Rıza Akdolu’s Aliens Sculptures Hidden in a Million Years?

Written by Fulden Karayel Okumuş

Imagine traveling beyond time, into the earliest memories of humanity—perhaps a million years ago. You find yourself in a place where minerals and stones take shape in the hands of nature, carrying raw yet profound meanings. Think about it: Plato’s famous words, “Art is an imitation of nature,” come to life right here. Isn’t it fascinating how life and art constantly mirror each other in a cycle of transformation, allowing us all to find something of ourselves within it? Each change brings us to a deeper understanding and a new aesthetic experience.

Jewelry designer Ali Rıza Akdolu is one of the most striking reflections of this cycle in the art world. His designs reveal that jewelry is not merely an accessory but a tangible expression of a grand metamorphosis. These extraordinary forms symbolize breaking away from the conventional and embracing innovative thinking.

Curated by Dr. Feride Çelik, the Aliens exhibition welcomes art lovers at Inspera Bodrum Art Space. Here, you will see that the Aliens series consists of 50 different characters, each with its own story and "siblings." Interestingly, the age gap between these siblings is nearly one million years, linking the series to the formation process of minerals over time. If you find yourself in Bodrum, don’t miss the Aliens exhibition at Inspera Art Space, open until July 16!

Each form, each detail in the Aliens exhibition invites you to question new meanings hidden in the depths of life. After all, isn’t life itself a form of transformation—every moment carrying traces of the past while emerging with a fresh and unique form? In art, this transformation is not only technical but also an emotional and intellectual evolution.

To better understand the story behind this creative process and the depth of transformation in art, we had an inspiring conversation with jewelry designer Ali Rıza Akdolu. Here are the details!

1. Can you share your inspiring artistic journey with us? How did the idea of transitioning from jewelry design to sculpture emerge?

I have been involved in jewelry design and production for nearly 20–25 years. However, painting and sculpture have always been a part of my life, though not professionally. At some point, I reached a level of professional fulfillment and wanted to design and create for my own soul’s happiness. This led me to combine my professional expertise and artistic vision, resulting in the Aliens series.

2. Does the Aliens series have a story? If so, can you tell us about it?

Although the Aliens have amorphous forms, they consist of 50 different characters, each with its own unique story. Some of them are even siblings, but with an age gap of about one million years—which directly relates to the formation process of minerals over time.

3. What inspires you when creating your works?

For me, the Aliens series is a positive outcome of the pandemic. Before this period, we were all caught up in the intensity of commercial life and daily routines, struggling to slow down. But when the pandemic hit, everything suddenly stopped, forcing us to reflect on our lives, our actions, and our direction. That’s when I realized that Aliensrepresents metamorphosis—its physical manifestation in my art.

4. We see spider-like forms in your works. Is there a special reason behind this choice?

I wouldn’t necessarily associate them with spiders. As I mentioned before, they represent transformation—forms that I define as "jewelart."

5. Do you have favorite colors that you love using in your artworks? If so, what are they?

Alongside natural stones, I use bronze in my sculptures, and I absolutely love patinating it. Oxidizing bronze with green patina not only gives the metal a stunning color but also creates unexpected tonal variations.

6. What kind of stones do you use in your sculptures? Can you tell us about their properties?

I use precious and semi-precious stones sourced from various regions across the world. Finding stones that match my envisioned forms, having them cut, and polishing them is a long and labor-intensive process—but also a highly exciting and rewarding one. The selection, cutting, and final finishing of the 50 stones in this collection took around 2.5 to 3 years in total.

7. Each sculpture has its own character. Is there a particular one that impacts you the most?

You’re absolutely right—they are all unique. But I love the concept behind "Self Defence." This piece has 105 arrowsembedded in its body for protection. However, I used capuchon lolites at the tips to ensure that the arrows do not harmthe other side. So, while it instinctively protects itself, it remains sensitive enough not to cause damage to others.

8. What exciting projects can we expect from you in the near future?

I have been working on the Sphere series since last year. I aim to give a new dimension to this geometrically perfect symmetrical form with my own artistic interpretation. I expect to unveil this collection next year.

9. Do you have an unforgettable memory related to your designs? If so, can you share it with us?

I will never forget my artisans’ surprise when I first started making the Aliens. We have been working together in the jewelry atelier for over 20 years, and the form was already clear in my mind. But the moment I started filing the silver legs, I received all sorts of reactions—some thought it would be a bracelet, others assumed it was a necklace. But when the final sculptural alien-like form emerged, they were completely shocked. That was the first piece of the Aliensseries…

10. What advice would you give to young talents who want to follow in your footsteps?

My biggest advice to young creatives is to do what they love and never stop dreaming. If they follow their passion, success will naturally come.

11. What do you think about the future of art and design? How will technology shape this field?

We are witnessing a rapid shift where digital art is replacing physical art. With AI’s capabilities, people's expectations are evolving. It's hard to predict what lies ahead, as the changes we are experiencing are unprecedented in art history.

12. Besides Bodrum, do you have any preferred locations or platforms to exhibit your work?

Apart from Bodrum, I am in discussions for group and solo exhibitions in London and Dubai. Also, during a motorcycle trip years ago, I visited the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center in Baku—its architecture fascinated me. I would love to exhibit my works in a building designed by Zaha Hadid.

Written by: Fulden Karayel Okumuş ------------------- For years, artist Ali Rıza Akdolu has drawn inspiration from his jewelry designs to create sculptures that reveal both his personal transformation and nature's metamorphosis.

These amorphous and alien-like forms serve as an expression of the changes he has undergone in his artistic journey. In a time as extraordinary as the one we are all experiencing for the first time, his art has embarked on a new path, much like us. This journey has led him to rediscover himself and the world.

His works reflect traces of the individual and collective transformation of recent times. These jewelry sculptures symbolize human evolution and metamorphosis. Each form is a monumental expression of a process of change. While addressing themes of otherness and rebirth, these extraordinary forms also represent a break from the conventional and an embrace of innovative thinking. Through this exhibition, the artist invites us into his mind, his quest for identity, and self-exploration.

Art has always had a transformative power over humanity. Ali Rıza Akdolu has experienced this firsthand and now shares his personal journey with art lovers.

We hope that the Aliens exhibition will serve as a companion and a source of inspiration for all in their own journeys of discovery.

Dr. Feride Çelik