Today we’d like to introduce you to Ates Isildak.
Ates Isildak lives and works in Palm Beach County. His parents are both from Turkey. Ates Isildak received a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Central Florida and is an Alumn of Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Using short films, music videos, and photography. Ates Isildak aims to create a safe space and medium in which marginalized communities can exuberantly express themselves.
Ates Isildak’s works have appeared at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, Spectrum Miami Art Basel, Cultural Council (Stuart & Lake Worth), Fritz Gallery. His video work has been premiered online by Troma, Spin Magazine, Flood Magazine, Office Magazine, Consequence of Sound, Noisey, and Vice. Ates Isildak was just awarded the South Florida Cultural Consortium, as well as a grant from Art In Public Places. He will be in several gallery shows in 2020/2021 due to the opportunities the grant wins offer.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been a strange road. Maybe it’s because I don’t actually make art as a living, I don’t ever concentrate on selling my art or services. I can work as little or as much as I want and only on things I am passionate about. The struggle is making time for art even when the rest of life gets overwhelming.
COVID has made it very difficult to collaborate the way I used to. I love working with people. It’s essential to my videos and photography. I am hoping collaborations will start again soon.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am mainly known for my music videos for local bands. I’ve worked with TamaGucci, Surfer Blood, Chaucer, Le Poodle, Everymen, Reptile Chapel, and lots of other great bands, some that aren’t around any longer. My style is very lofi/diy, inspired by Michel Gondry’s home-made prop look, except my sets and props are literally homemade. So there is child-like energy to much of my work.
Lately, I have been focusing on photography, and my work is very saturated and vibrant both in choice of model and lighting, the work kind of imitating that blacklight poster glow. I’d love to include a music video with my article if possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0L8I6o1NU&feature=emb_logo.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I am being given some awesome opportunities due to my recent grant wins. I get to show art in some galleries because of the Cultural Consortium. I also get to make a documentary for AIPP, capturing 14 different artists making unique art in public places, that’s for Art In Public Places. I am hoping for a great relationship with the city and the arts committees and become more involved as a collaborator and leader in my community and help bring some more radical art to Palm Beach County.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2185 White Pine Circle #C
Greenacres, FL 33415 - Website: www.strangewaverecords.com
- Phone: 5616018404
- Email: atesisildak@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/strangewaave
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ates.isildak
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