Dance of Color
Gamze Nur Karakoca
My architectural journey at the Ankara Museum of Painting and Sculpture involved examining the building through its colors and the effects it evokes. The building greets visitors at the entrance with a staircase featuring striking marble and a symmetrical effect. I observed that the spatial characteristics and effects of the Turkish Salon, the exhibition areas connected by staircases, and the Turkish Room, designed with inspiration from Ankara houses, differed. I experienced that this difference was most clearly expressed through the colors, lighting, and symmetrical arrangement, and I interpreted the dance of color in these different spaces.
The building's facade is designed with the use of white and gold marble, and a strong gold-colored entrance door. Access to the upper floors is provided by white marble, a red carpet, and a symmetrical staircase. The lighting adds different details to the various elements and colors. The architectural language is continued with gold details. The strong symmetry of the building's exterior entrance is continued in the Turkish Salon located at the entrance. However, unlike the marble used on the exterior, white, gold, and red are used in completely different ways. This spatial arrangement in the Turkish Salon is strengthened by the depth added by the light of the large chandelier on the ceiling. The Turkish Room, while similar to the Turkish Salon in its use of red, white, and gold, the depth of light added by the large chandelier, and its symmetry, has a different architectural language. Designed with inspiration from Ankara houses, the room is designed with appropriate motifs. The use of green and various transparent elements, in addition to red and white, creates a different architectural language.
The use of red and gold colors and wooden doors continues in the Osman Hamdi Bey Hall, Şeker Ahmet Paşa Hall, and Hoca Ali Rıza Hall. The different lighting styles on the ceiling add depth to the flow of circulation. Symmetry is achieved in various ways within the halls.
The language of symmetry is continued in the Ali Çelebi Hall, Refik Epikman Hall, Ferruh BaÅŸaÄŸa Hall, Orhan Peker Hall, Nur Ä°yem Hall, Abidin Dino Hall, Bedri Rahmi EyüboÄŸlu Hall, Zühtü MüridoÄŸlu Hall, Fikret Mualla Hall, Arif Hikmet KoyunoÄŸlu Hall, and Erol AkyavaÅŸ Hall. However, it is transformed into a different language with the use of blue color in different places in the halls and the use of spotlights in addition to ceiling lighting. Spotlights directed at the paintings provide direction and add depth.
Although the building as a whole shares a specific architectural language, I experienced how the color varied within the spaces. As a result of all these experiences, in my work I aimed to convey the areas I experienced during my journey through a series of photographs under the theme of 'Color Dance'.
