Dirimart is delighted to present Built in a Day, Seçkin Pirim’s second solo exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition consists of an installation of acrylic and 3D-modeled sculptures created specifically for the show. Designed as a cohesive installation reminiscent of market squares in ancient cities, the exhibition is accompanied by Pirim’s paper works previously showcased at Triennale Milano. In this body of work at Dirimart, Pirim explores the interplay between the slow passage of time in the daily life of the ancient world and the chaos generated by the fast-paced production and consumption of the modern era.
Examining the relationship between form, material, and space, Seçkin Pirim integrates architectural and design disciplines into his practice through layered surfaces, fluid forms, and sharp geometric lines. He frequently employs materials such as paper, plexiglass, metal, and marble in his minimalist and abstract works, constructing layered structures defined by precise, sharp lines. Recently, Pirim has focused on distancing himself from the culture of rapid consumption. In Built in a Day, he references antiquity, reinterpreting the era’s construction logic and enduring architectural forms in a contemporary manner, offering viewers a temporary experience of escape and purification.
In recent years, Pirim has travelled extensively through the ancient cities of Anatolia, exploring the styles and careers of sculptors from antiquity. He specifically focuses on the Aphrodisias School of Sculpture, renowned for its expertise in marble carving, analysing the results of archaeological research. By investigating the connections between the perceptions and production methods of sculptures in both ancient and contemporary times, he creates artworks depicting the conflict between the past and the present.
At the exhibition entrance, Pirim constructs a pathway that recalls how the agora in Ancient Greece functioned not only as a marketplace but also as a space for thought, encounters, and discussion. This path is surrounded by columns referencing ancient structures, reimagined in the artist’s distinctive style. Through this, he reminds us that sculpture serves as a narrative form that resists the passage of time. Just as the agora was the centre of ancient cities, it also forms the core of the exhibition space. The columns function not only as structural elements but also as enduring witnesses of time, serving as memory objects that bridge the past and the present.
Columns played a crucial role in the design and symbolism of Greek temples, serving structural supports and symbolic representations of the divine. In his Grey Columns series at the exhibition, Pirim reinterprets the traditional column form – typically associated with marble or stone – using paper and repetitive gestures. The layered nature of paper references the artist’s production techniques while simultaneously invoking the patient, meticulous stone-carving craftsmanship of the ancient world. However, these columns take on a new identity; rather than being permanent and heavy, they become light, ephemeral, and open to transformation.
The exhibition also features digital 3D works, reflecting the rapidly produced and consumed nature of the contemporary world. These works, displayed behind a gallery wall, starkly contrast to the tranquillity of antiquity, confronting us with our present reality. Whereas ancient structures were built and shaped over long periods, today, they have been replaced by transient, mass-produced objects. Pirim highlights this reality through his digitally created sculptures, engaging with humanity’s technology-driven way of life.
Bridging the patient production methods of the past with today’s fast-paced consumer culture, Built in a Day invites the audience to reflect on the contrasting emotional worlds of these two time periods. The exhibition will be on view at Dirimart Dolapdere from 6 March to 13 April 2025.
