EKAV / Education, Culture and Research Foundation is pleased to present “Weather Forecast: Downpour Love”, a solo exhibition by Ergin Varlıbaş, on view at Ekavart Gallery from February 12 to March 15.
Curated by Burcu Ölmez, “Weather Forecast: Downpour Love” explores the energy and complexity of love through a multidimensional lens. Known for merging the striking effect of neon lights with diverse materials, Varlıbaş invites viewers to navigate the emotional and philosophical layers of love throughout the exhibition.
“Love may gently brush the soul like a breeze or engulf the entire being like an unexpected downpour,” notes the artist. In this exhibition, Ergin Varlıbaş channels that emotional intensity through the vibrant energy of neon and the harmony of various media.
As one of the most powerful and enduring themes in art history—ranging from Dante’s mystical reverence for Beatrice, to Frida Kahlo’s passionate letters to Diego Rivera, to Gustav Klimt’s iconic The Kiss—love has been reinterpreted across centuries. Varlıbaş takes this universal emotion beyond classical expression, offering a contemporary reinterpretation. By fusing the vivid glow of neon with mixed materials, the artist encourages viewers to contemplate love in its emotional and philosophical dimensions. Echoing Victor Hugo’s sentiment that “Love is a force capable of extinguishing the sun,” the exhibition presents love’s dynamic and layered nature through a modern artistic vocabulary.
Among the highlights of the show is the Mold series. Drawing inspiration from the organic patterns on the walls of an abandoned structure, Varlıbaş delicately visualizes the cycles of transformation and renewal in life. Here, mold becomes more than a sign of decay—it emerges as a symbol of nature’s own creative process.
For project, click here.