The Art of Giving, Listening, and Circular Journey by Vuslat Doğan Sabancı

I am a self-taught contemporary artist whose sculptural practice draws deeply from organic forms in nature, exploring the intertwined threads of memory, loss, and joy. My journey into art has been shaped not only by my creative instincts but also by my lifelong commitment to social change, publishing campaigns, and philanthropic initiatives in Turkey.

I was born in Istanbul, and in 1996, I began working at Hürriyet Publishing, the leading newspaper group in Turkey. My years there taught me the power of stories to shape public consciousness. I created an editorial policy that championed gender equality and human rights, and in 2004, I launched the No! To Domestic Violence campaign, a movement designed to empower women and create lasting social change. Alongside it, I established Turkey’s first 24/7 domestic violence hotline, which continues to operate today.

My belief in the power of giving and listening extends beyond my art. In 2020, I founded the Vuslat Foundation, Turkey’s first global philanthropic enterprise, with the vision of fostering a culture of “generous listening”, a practice that builds trust, deepens empathy, and creates space for authentic connection.

It is from this place of care, trust, and exchange that the word emanet resonates so strongly with me. In Turkish, it speaks of something entrusted to your care, something you hold with tenderness as if it were your own until the moment of return. This notion guides both my art and my life. I work with forms that spiral, curve, and circle back, evoking the cyclical nature of journeys, the departures, the returns, the transformations in between.

My materials, too, carry stories. I borrow pigments from the soil of Bayburt, my family’s homeland, and collaborate with artists across continents, creating works born from mutual trust. For me, listening is an act of courage, for when we truly listen, we invite the unexpected into our lives. This is as true in my studio as it is in my philanthropic work.

Istanbul is where my studio breathes, a space of reflection and exchange that I have opened to young artists. Soon, as I leave for Los Angeles to pursue my MFA at Otis College of Art and Design, I will pass this space on as an emanet to others, allowing new stories to be created within its walls.

This philosophy recently came to life in my exhibition Emanet, shown at the MSGSU Tophane-i Amire Cultural and Art Center in Istanbul and earlier at the Baksi Museum in Bayburt. Through sculpture, painting, fiber, and sound, the show was a visual meditation on the tender responsibility of holding what is entrusted to us, an ever-evolving journey of care, memory, and connection. 

About: Vuslat is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and installations. Her works frequently delve into themes such as trust, interconnectedness, memory, and collective consciousness. Drawing inspiration from mythological narratives, nature-culture dynamics, and philosophical discourses, Vuslat's art embodies a rich interplay of ideas and mediums. One of her significant projects, titled Emanet, reflects deeply on values such as trust, care, and guardianship. This body of work serves as a meditation on ancient traditions, spiritual practices, healing, and the act of remembering.