Canan Korkmaz
(Art Critic-Chicago)

Yucel Donmez father of colorful new technique he name it Deepism. Donmez first show was with his unique style and technique At The Art Institute of Chicago exhibition (July 1987). From exhibition, American WGN television interview Donmez and gave him "Chicago's Very Own" title.
Now around the world many artist using his own technique, some try to copy him some try to use different way with Donmez's technique.
Donmez gave to art world many new idea. His first large out door Installations was 1975 in Turkey. Installation become art trend 1990 S but Donmez name it new art trend, over than 15 Years ago. 1975 Turkish television made life broadcast and art magazine used articles about his out door Installations with the name of Installation Art. Until 1975 no body was used name of Installation art. That mean Yucel Donmez was also father of Installation art.
Donmez say, "world of art market going on with to many games.There is Van Gogh & Andy Warhol examples showing, how dummy is world art market. Those dummy's should not have to collect Yucel Donmez's art works. Donmez still doing his paintings, sculpture, new art and video Installations. He never ask galleries to represent his art but he says "galleries welcome to ask".

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
ART REVIEW
Mosaic a metaphor for the ephemeral
By Alan G. Artner > TRIBUNE CRITIC
February 3, 2008
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“Such a metaphor comes across with difficulty from pieces that strive toward seduction. And Halloran's rink piece does not even extend the modest snow paintings created in Grant Park by Turkish artist Yucel Donmez in 1993. It's not a bad thing to popularize ideas present in contemporary art for decades. But in Millennium Park popularizing mainly means softening. Of all the pieces to appear apart from the Kapoor, just the sculptures by Mark di Suvero have succeeded in being tough and appealing. The rest attract and brighten and please, which certainly is not to be gainsaid during shorter days of the year. But to provide a brief thrill does not seem enough. Don't we want more residue than the memory of instant pleasure?

"Museum of Modern Ice: Paintings Below Zero" continues at Millennium Park, between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive at Washington Street, through Feb. 29. 1-877-CHICAGO.”

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TURKISH DAILY NEWS (English Newspaper in Turkey)

Turkish-american artist Yücel Dönmez embraces new trend
Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Turkish motifs inpire Deepism, which the artist says will carry painting to its peak
Turkish-American artist Yücel Dönmez, who has been living in Chicago since 1980, will exhibit a fresh artistic style called Deepism in what American critics say is a new trend in the world of art. His exhibition will open on March 9 at the Istanbul Antique Art Gallery.
Dönmez said Deepism, including the aspects of today's conceptual art, would carry the art of painting to its peak. He added that Deepism was also reflected in today's world in the fields of literature, medicine, physics, technology and politics.
Dönmez conveys the feeling of eternity in his work by synthesizing it with the reason for our cosmic existence.

From traditional Turkish motifs to modern painting:
American art critics and experts say Dönmez's inspiration comes from Turkish art, which he uses as a base, developing his own style and technique. Chicago Tribune art critic Alan Artner said Dönmez, with his strong technique and style, has created something new in modern painting. “It's like looking at Kandinsky or Klee's work; I don't see traces from any other artist. The same goes for Yücel Dönmez's work; I don't see traces of other artists.”
Dönmez's exhibition will run from March 9-30 at the Antique Art Gallery in Istanbul's Taksim district.
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BUGÜN NEWSPAPER 29th July 2006

A wizard of colours in the Istanbul Metro

The newly opened Taksim-Kabataþ funicular line, also leaves its mark in the area of Turkish contemporary art. Painter Yücel Dönmez’ 12 m2 transportable painting entitled, Millennium Tuðra [the name given to the Sultan’s personalised signature], and 7 m2 painting under a sheet of glass are on display at the station.

Transportable contemporary art work has been displayed in a public space for the first time in Turkey. Alongside painter Yücel Dönmez’ 12 square metre-large acrylic painting on metal, are a 7 square metre contemporary painting under glass, and a 6 square metre dijital image, all shown in the Taksim-Kabataþ funicular station in Taksim. The artist has also transformed a winch measuring 4.5 metres in diameter and forming the pulley system for the funicular wagon, into a brightly coloured kinetic work of art. Encased in a special glass box, this giant cog is the first time a functioning motor has been turned into a working piece of art.

Taking traditional Turkish art and the different aspects of Anatolian culture as a starting point to create his own contemporary style and technique, Yücel Dönmez has been working on his art in the city of Chicago in the United States for the last twentyfive years.

Described as unique and uninfluenced by the West or by another master painter by well-known American art critic Alan Artner, Yücel Dönmez has, as a result of his self-developed technique and interesting style, had mention in many encyclopaedias in the U.S.

Discovered on the internet…

Finding Yücel Dönmez’ paintings on the internet, Control Engineer for the construction of the Underground, Feriha Mert, states how lucky they were to have found Dönmez.

Yücel Dönmez developed his ‘under glass’ technique from traditional Turkish arts, just as he did his painting technique, carrying them into a contemporary style. The 7 square metres under glass painting carries notes of Ottoman calligraphy (Hat), ornamentation (Süsleme) and Ottoman Sultans’ personalised signatures (Tuðra), which Dönmez mentions is an original and novel style in Turkish art. He adds that he has not yet heard of an under glass painting of such a large dimension anywhere in the world. The giant under glass transportable picture, painted into a special type of shatter-proof glass, weighs a phenomenal 200 kilograms.

In encyclopaedias in the U.S.
Yücel Dönmez has been undergoing art work in the city of Chicago in the United States since 1980. Having held many exhibitions both in his homeland of Turkey and in the States, Dönmez was entered into such encyclopaedias as, ‘Who is Who in American Art’ in 2000, ‘The Biographical Encyclopedia of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers of the U.S.’ in 2002, and ‘Devonport’s Art Reference’. In doing so, he has earned a permanent place in American art history. He has also appeared alongside 62 other Chicago artists, in the art reference book, ‘Art Diary International’, published in Italy every year by well-known FlashArt magazine.
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