Kemal TufanTHE KEEL

/ THE WORK

THE KEEL, 2001-2022
volcanic lava

This monumental sculpture attracts and surprises in the centre of the Park due to its size, sturdiness and anthracite color, and creates a strong contrast with the green of the forest that frames it. What, at first glance, may appear to be the charred skeleton of a large dinosaur, later appears to be what it actually represents: the remains of a large ship. On the other hand, the sea and ships or sea life are a recurring motif in the Turkish artist’s work, given his daily proximity to the Sea of Marmara, in Istanbul.
Made with volcanic lava, The Keel evokes the idea of natural cycles of decay, transformation and rebirth; recalling the destructive power of the sea or volcanoes, as for the destruction of Pompeii. But it also lends itself to a variety of diversified readings, connected to the idea of the ship, of sea voyages, connecting space and time and even recalling mythological journeys such as Noah’s Ark, or that of Charon across the river Styx, or even Ulysses’ journey lasting twenty years after the destruction of Troy.
In creating his sculptural language, Tufan aims to relate objects in unexpected combinations to find and provoke ironies and contrasts: in The Keel the artistic transformation of lava into a new form of existence within the vital context of the Park evokes a sense of regeneration and optimism, stimulates the spectator’s curiosity and the comparison with the imagination and sense of humour. The incongruity of finding a similar object in the heart of the Chianti forest only increases the visitor’s sense of surprise.