Cesme’s First Art Center Arkas Art Alacati Opened With Two Different Exhibitions

Opening with both a permanent and a temporary exhibition, Arkas Art Alacati will engage art lovers year-round with events like artist talks, seminars, and workshops designed to complement these exhibitions. Monreve Patisserie, located inside the center, will be a pleasant stop for visitors.

Arkas Art Alacati began its operations after the land belonging to Cesme Municipality was allocated to Arkas for 30 years within the scope of the protocol signed between the two. The center aims to enrich Cesme’s cultural and artistic activities.

Speaking at the press conference, Mayor of Cesme Lal Denizli said, “Lucien Arkas, this building you have brought to Cesme is a very valuable investment for the development of culture and arts here. Not only in Izmir, but all over the world, there are points where Mr. Lucien meets art. He is a very important person not only for Izmir but also for Türkiye. Bringing art to Cesme without any profit motive is extremely valuable for us and our future generations. Limiting Cesme to only two months would be unfair to the many beauties and cultural heritage we have here. We want families to consider Cesme during the winter months as well. For this, there should be spaces where they can engage with art and socialize both in summer and winter. With this investment, we have created an area where the people of Cesme can meet for meetings and culture and art events. As the Mayor of Cesme, I am honored and proud to inaugurate this initiative. I hope that the cooperation between Cesme Municipality and Arkas will lead to many more days that will brighten Cesme’s future investments.”

Arkas Holding Chairman Lucien Arkas said, “Arkas Art Alacati is our 5^th art center. We opened our first art center in Izmir in 2011. 13 years ago, we began our journey in art investment, and we will continue to do so. Cesme should be celebrated not just for two months but throughout the entire year. We have designed an art center that people can visit in both summer and winter, capable of hosting cultural and artistic events and gatherings across all disciplines. We feature two exhibition halls: one for permanent exhibitions and another for temporary exhibitions.  Our permanent exhibition is the Victor Vasarely exhibition, originally opened in Istanbul in 2017 and subsequently at the Arkas Art Center in Izmir. He is the pioneer of the Op Art movement and an artist I greatly admire. His grandson, Pierre Vasarely, who is the President of the Vasarely Foundation, is a friend of mine. At the Lucien Arkas Hall, works from the Arkas Art Collection are exhibited. One of the greatest needs in Izmir’s, and even Türkiye’s, cultural and arts scene is to increase the number of venues where young artists can connect with audiences. At our new center, Arkas Art Alacati, we aim to address this need. We have designed our temporary exhibition to feature young artists, modern, and contemporary art.  Additionally, we aim to support young artists with an international contemporary art exhibition titled “New Lands,” curated from private collections. Every museum includes a café where visitors can enjoy both the art center and a place to sit and chat. We envisioned Monreve Patisserie inside as a meeting place for visitors to the art center.”

Merve Arkas, Monreve Group Chairman of the Board, said: “Arkas Art Alacati marks a significant achievement for Cesme’s cultural and arts scene. As Monreve Group, we are delighted to launch our new project within such a valuable setting. Monreve Patisserie is designed as a welcoming space for socializing among art enthusiasts at Arkas Art Alacati. Our aim is to enhance the experience for our guests who come to view exhibitions or attend events. At Monreve Group, we emphasize the integration of art in everything we do. We plan to continue this collaboration between Arkas Art and Monreve Patisserie in future art centers.”

Providing insights into Arkas Art Alacati, Arkas Art Center Director Mujde Unustasi stated, “Although Arkas’ art centers maintain a dialogue with each other, each possesses its own distinct world and focal points. At Arkas Art Alacati, we aimed to embody the vibrant spirit of Cesme by focusing on modern and contemporary art. In the Lucien Arkas Exhibition Hall, we will permanently showcase a selection of works by Victor Vasarely from the Arkas Art Collection. Victor Vasarely, a pivotal figure in 20th-century art, is renowned for his geometric patterns and optical illusions, establishing himself as the pioneer of the Op Art movement. Our exhibition features 30 works spanning various periods of the artist’s career, including paintings, tapestries, and sculptures. In this freshly constructed building, we aimed to adopt a youthful perspective and showcase their interpretation of art to visitors. Our inaugural temporary exhibition, New Lands, curated by Dr. Necmi Sonmez and organized by the Arkas Art team, features 157 works by 155 artists under the age of 40. These artworks were gathered from 29 private collections across Türkiye and around the world.”