Sessizlik / Silence: Ahmet Güneştekin at Palazzo Gradenigo in Venice

Ahmet Güneştekin at Palazzo Gradenigo: the installation

The exhibition Sessizlik / Silence presents recent works by Ahmet Güneştekin in the rooms and external spaces of Palazzo Gradenigo. Curated by Sergio Risaliti and part of the Fundación’s inaugural programme, the show pairs bronze sculptures with oil paintings conceived specifically for the historic interiors.

Main works and themes

The display features large-scale sculptures and wall-mounted paintings across two floors. Highlights include:

• Bronze sculptures: eleven figures of varying size, some exceeding three metres, many representing workers and ordinary people, inspired by the craftsmen who participated in the palace’s restoration.
• Oil paintings: eleven canvases that interact with the sculptures and architectural setting, drawing on the artist’s recurring imagery.
• Self-portrait and the gesture of silence: a prominent figure making the finger-to-lips gesture associated with Harpocrates, inviting visitors to quiet contemplation.

Meaning and context

The exhibition develops motifs central to Güneştekin’s practice: collective memory, Mediterranean and Anatolian myth, fragments of ancient civilizations and overlooked narratives. Silence appears as both a call to concentrated attention and a metaphor for cultures and voices that have been silenced by power or censorship.

Visitor information

Practical tips for planning a visit:

• Check visiting hours and access rules on the palace or foundation’s official channels before attending.
• Allow enough time to move slowly through the rooms—several works reward prolonged viewing.
• Opt for a quiet visit to fully appreciate the symbolic and narrative layers of the installation.

Why see it

This solo show at Palazzo Gradenigo is an opportunity to engage with an artistic language that bridges ancient iconography and contemporary concerns, transforming personal memory into shared cultural reflection. The site-specific installation also emphasizes the dialogue between the artworks and the palace’s architecture, encouraging reflective engagement.