The Gilded Daybreak

Created during an artist residency in southern Turkey, this striking mixed media canvas centres on a proud, beautifully stylized rooster. The artwork serves as a vibrant visual diary of the region’s energy. The background is a brilliant sky of layered azure and deep cobalt acrylics, split by a bold vertical beam that grounds the composition.
Floating throughout the space are intricate, circular mandalas and medallion motifs reminiscent of both antique celestial charts and the rich, ornamental history of Mediterranean tapestries.
The rooster’s feathers are created from layered textiles featuring damask patterns, geometric lines, and swirling filigree, all brought together with shimmering gold and bronze gilding. This warm, metallic plumage contrasts vividly against the cool blues of the background and the dense, vibrant green foliage lining the bottom of the canvas.
Nestled subtly into the pattern work on the right side of the canvas is a tiny, handwritten inscription: “çok teşekkürler”. This quiet hidden message serves as an intimate note of gratitude from the artist to the experience that inspired the piece.