Gamze Özer (b.1984), Istanbul, Turkey
Motivated by a friend, Gamze Özer began making collages when she was 16 and from then on has kept doing so. She studied fashion design and graphic design.  Gamze was influenced by dada, most of all by the artist Charles Wilkin. “When I first saw his works, they blew my mind. I am really influenced by him and this shows in my works. “

She enjoys making collages because of the chance element involved. “When I see a piece of paper on the street I immediately take it because I know some day that piece will fit into some other work. I like those pieces getting together by coincidence. It is as if all the pieces of paper, photos and textures I collected have a story to tell and they are waiting for their completion day. The feeling that I am helping them accomplish this is the main reason I am making collages”.

In the beginning of her work process she lays out all her materials on the floor and spends a long time looking at them. After that, she puts the pieces in their places through trial and error. “I take this part seriously and am quite nervous during this process because I feel responsible for my source material and sometimes it takes me several hours to complete one collage. “