CANGGU, mybalinews.id – A vast expanse of tea plantations streches across the landscape, evoking imagination of the cycles of life. In the center, a towering, shady tree with its bright red leaves creates a stark contrast to the surrounding landscape. Women tea pickers were seen in traditional Turkish attire.
The painting is one of ten works by Turkish artist Halime Türkyılmaz on display at Art Xchange Gallery from July 29 to August 12, 2026.
All the works on display are presented under the theme “The Heart of the Land.” However, the approach to depicting nature is impressionistic, with the landscape of the plantation or the trees not resembling their natural forms.
At first glance, the works may convey a decorative impression. Yet the layered interplay of color and texture lends the paintings a remarkable sense of depth, suggesting meanings that extend beyond their surface.
The use of the dot technique in the artworks also lends a unique character. Halime uses a syringe to create small circles, which she drips one by one, adjusting the tempo and spacing between each.
“One painting can be completed in a month,” she said in an interview on Wednesday (July 29, 2026). This doesn’t affect her productivity, as she typically works on five different canvases at a time.
According to Turkish art observer Cem Bülent Ünal, who facilitated the exhibition, Halime is one of Turkey’s leading contemporary painters today. The 1987-born artist’s works have been exhibited in Europe as well as in her own country.
She is seeking to introduce her work to a wider audience in Asia, with Bali in Indonesia being her first destination. “We want to connect with artists and art enthusiasts here,” said the founder of McArt.ist in Istanbul, a project to create Turkey’s first art incubation center.
Meanwhile, the owner of Art Xchange Gallery, Benny Oentoro, revealed that he has known Cem Bülent Ünal for a long time, since their first meeting in 2014. They share the same view that art has a unique ability to connect diverse cultures, communities, and creative individuals across borders.
From their communication, they finally agreed to collaborate to promote Indonesian artists internationally, with the work of Indonesian artists also being exhibited in Turkey.
“That’s very important so that we can become not only champions at home but also recognized by other nations,” he said.
This exhibition project, he said, marks the beginning of a long-term international collaboration dedicated to strengthening cultural dialogue, supporting emerging and established artists, and creating new opportunities for artistic exchange between regions of the world.
This exhibition also serves as an important preview initiative for the upcoming McArt Awards 2026, an international platform designed to bring together artists, curators, galleries, collectors, and cultural institutions from around the world.
For Art Xchange Gallery, this exhibition marks a revival after relocating from Sanur area. “We will certainly invite many artists from various styles and genres, to showcase their artwork here,” Benny emphasized. (mybalinews/RFH)
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