Esra Art Studio
by Esra Kanisicak
Esra Kanisicak is an interdisciplinary sculptor, wife and mother. Throughout 16 relocations in her life, first as the child of a Turkish diplomat and later her expat adult life she relied on art to anchor her soul and feed her need for creativity. Prior to moving to the United States with her husband in 2003, she pursued her passion for scuba diving and worked as a scuba instructor. She has been calling Cincinnati her home since 2011. As a stay home mother, she started her art career
as a self-taught painter and now pursuing her life-long dream to study fine arts at the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP (College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning) where she has developed a deep affection for 3D art and has found her artistic expression in mixed media sculpture. She explores themes of neurodiversity, belonging and ocean conservation, all areas near and dear to her heart.
STATEMENT
I used to spend my waking hours underwater as a scuba diving instructor, being awe-struck by the natural wonders, the balance, and the peace of the underwater world. This love of the ocean fuels my deep concern about her well-being.
My artistic practice revolves around conveying the captivating beauty and pressing plight of our oceans, with a specific focus on the destructive impact of abandoned fishing gear, or 'ghost nets.'
By design, these nets continue to ensnare and harm marine life long after they have been abandoned, entangling turtles, sharks, dolphins, seals, and other marine life.
I explore the contrast between vibrant aquatic life and the entanglement of nets underwater. Through various materials and organic forms, I create depth and texture, building a story around my work with the fishnets. By bringing marine life into our sphere of empathy, I seek to ignite a desire to change our relationship with materials and our environment.
I am greatly inspired by these artists, activists, and pioneers leading the awareness efforts in contemporary art and society today;
Dr. Sylvia Earle - Mission Blue
Pam Longobardi - Drifters Project
Alejandro Duran - Garbage Museum & Washed Up