Güler a Visual Artist. Working from her home studio in Melbourne, Australia. Social justice issues are the focus of her art practice.
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'A Kurdish born, lived most of her life in Melbourne and a Visual Artist, practicing in numerous media forms: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and digital artwork and methods. Güler is committed to; social justice and advocacy; elimination of gender-based violence; implications that arise due to disability and ethnicity. Not only political but aiming to be socially focused, exploring narratives of connection, networking, vulnerability, care, emotional insight and creative sensitivity. Her conceptual framework is influenced by her focus, on human rights and associated social and political issues.
Currently, an art teacher with a Melbourne based Neighbourhood Learning Centre and for over five years she has been facilitating weekly art workshops face to face and currently online (due to Covid-19) with people who have a lived experience of mental health concerns and disability. Her professional career span includes various roles. For over ten years in Community Radio Broadcasting such as; National Training Management/ Radio Station Management/ Producer, Broadcaster and Trainer; employed in the not for profit sector for twenty years in Youth Work; Community Development and Mediation. These influences, imbue her contemporary art practice. Güler has an extensive history as Advocate and Campaigner against violence against women and children and successfully bring her personal lived experience and art practice to public attention. Her art practice and lived experience informs all of Altunbas's public speaking events and collaborations. For instance, 'And I Rise' prevention of violence against women & gender equity cohealth (2019-21), White Ribbon: Walk Against Family Violence (2018, 2017); Health Cares about Family Violence Forum/Sunshine Hospital (2018); Launch of Memorial Garden for Victims of Violence/City of Moreland (2017); and Submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence (2015/2016). In each case she has been invited as Guest Speaker, Witness, Advocate, Spokesperson, and Artist. In 2016, She was commissioned and created a public bronze sculpture that would encapsulate the reality of gender-based violence in our communities, entitled Question? Why? for cohealth. Güler is interested in spirituality and art and how the two can co-exist. "There are many nuances not just black and white. My philosophy is to embrace the ‘mind/body/spirit’ connection when creating artworks." |