Güler is a Visual Artist working from her home studio in Melbourne Social justice issues are the focus of her art practice.
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Human First? exhibition at The Dax Centre, Melbourne. 2021
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Photograph by Adam Knapper
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Born in Turkey with Kurdish heritage and lived most of her life in Melbourne. Güler Altunbas is a Multidisciplinary Artist, practicing in numerous media forms: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, video and film & digital artwork. Güler is committed to; social justice and advocacy; elimination of gender-based violence (link to her advocacy website https://shrineforus.weebly.com/); 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 almost ten years she has been facilitating weekly art workshops face to face and online (during Covid restrictions) 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 includes various roles; National Training Manager/ Radio Station Management- Station & Duty Manager/ 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. In 2020, she was commissioned to create artworks for the 'And I Rise' cohealth information booklet that looks at hope and healing for the future after gender-based violence in our communities.
Recently, she worked as a Co producer and presenter of podcasts that are disability led for people with disabilities. The YouTube channel Your life your voice is a series of interviews of self-advocates and other professionals in the disability sector not only to empower, inspire and educate as well as viewers & listeners to reach their full potential.
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."