About Anqi

ANQI (安琪 / Melek Anqi) is a contemporary artist of Turkish-Taiwanese/Chinese descent celebrated for her vibrant mixed media paintings, digital art, and sculptures. She earned her graduate degree at Yale University in the US and pursued further studies in fashion design and illustration. Embracing both traditional and digital techniques, ANQI's playful style intertwines elements of Asian and Western cultures and explores themes of individuation and authenticity. Her artwork has been showcased in various international exhibitions and fairs, including in New York, Istanbul and China.

The heart of ANQI's artistic expression lies in her iconic character, Hiromita, inspired by Asian manga characters from her childhood and traditional Chinese rooftop cat figurines (wamao / tile cats) believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits. Hiromita embodies a playful and tiger-spirited cat that reminds us to stay true to ourselves while fostering genuine connections with others. Through Hiromita, ANQI encourages viewers to embrace their individuality and unique talents. In 2023, ANQI's brand collaboration with CoolBitX for the "CoolWallet x HIROMITA" NFT collection brought the artist international recognition.

Hiromita character appears in various forms in ANQI’s artwork, including mixed media paintings, digital art and NFTs. At the beginning of 2023, CoolBitX, a leader in the crypto assets wallet industry, announced its brand collaboration with Melek Anqi for the release of the “CoolWallet x HIROMITA” NFT collection as part of their launch of CoolWallet HOT, a new module in their CoolWallet app.

Hiromita character is inspired by the artist’s experiences in Asian culture especially her childhood in Taiwan. While learning Chinese in Taipei when she was 7 years old, the artist felt connected with the lively characters in comic books. Furthermore, Asian rooftop cat figurines shaped the story of Hiromita. These traditional sculptures, called "Tiger on the Roof", are said to eat ghosts and bring good fortune to households. ANQI transformed this folklore and created a tiger-spirited cat that eats away the inner void in our modern lives with her terrifying mouth and teeth and gives back love (connection). Through her use of bold colors, expressive brushstrokes, and unexpected materials, ANQI tries to capture a journey of self-acceptance and courage through her character Hiromita. With an unchanging and wild facial expression in contrast with the everchanging materials used in the paintings, Hiromita celebrates uniqueness and inspires self-belonging by encouraging viewers to find themselves and avoid fitting in, embracing differences.

ANQI's creative style is a captivating blend of visual storytelling, cultural exploration, and the artist’s personal mythology. Her childhood in Taiwan exposed her to the Chinese painting and calligraphy techniques, vibrant visual pop culture and colorful atmosphere of Asia, particularly Asian manga, and anime characters. Using art as a means of self-expression, she uniquely combines her cultural heritage and internal experiences. Drawing from her diverse background with roots in Turkey, Taiwan, and North America, ANQI weaves multi-layered cultural narratives in the form of paintings and sculptures that incorporate elements of Asian culture, shamanic teachings and analytical psychology. Utilizing a playful and expressionist style, she seamlessly merges traditional materials like fabric, paint, and clay with digital tools, creating vibrant artworks that tell stories through a unique plastic language. ANQI’s artistic journey showcases a commitment to storytelling that brings together myths and contemporary experiences. Overall, ANQI's style emerges as a vibrant tapestry of cultural influences, personal history, and a commitment to authentic expression.

EXHIBITIONS

2024, Esther Gallery, ArtAnkara Contemporary Art Fair, Turkey

2024,  “How I wonder what you are” (究竟何物现奇景), Group Exhibition, BFM Art Center in Suzhou, China.

2023, "Hiromita" Selection, AB Gallery Korea, Contemporary Istanbul (18th edition)

2023, “Hiromita”, Solo Show, Deppo29 Art Gallery, Ankara

2023, “Hiromita” selection, 9th ARTAnkara Contemporary Art Fair, AB Gallery Korea, Ankara

2023, “Theme: Meta”, Group Exhibition, Tilki Sanat Gallery, Izmir

2022, “Women of the World”, Group Exhibition, NowHere Gallery, New York City

2022, Ekim Geçidi (October Parade), Group Exhibition, Çankaya Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara

2022, “Ethereal Sensations” series, AB Gallery Korea, Contemporary Istanbul (17th edition)

2022, “SummerArt Bodrum”, Group Exhibition, MAJI Art Gallery, Bodrum

2021, 16th Contemporary Istanbul, Turkey

2021, "Dream Objects" & "Glow-in-the-Dark" series, 5th Artweeks@Akaretler, BBProjecTT, Istanbul

2021, "Glow-in-the-Dark" series, 1-Day Solo Show, Global Federation of Chinese Business Women, Turkey Chapter

2021, “Homo Sacer”, Group Exhibition, Tilki Sanat Art Gallery, İzmir, Turkey

2021, II. Istanbul Art & Antiques Fair (IAAF), Istanbul

2021, Bodrum Art Fair, Bodrum, Turkey

2021, “Dream Objects", Solo Show, Karl&Ein Gallery, Istanbul

2021, “Tanış Olmak”, Group Exhibition, Çankaya Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara

2021, "Glow-in-the-Dark" series, ArtContact Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair