Mysticism in Design — A Conversation with Oksal Yesilok
Mystical, elegant, blended in time. A few words that come to mind when you look at Oksal Yesilok’s reminiscent take on design. Turkish-born, Yesilok studied Art & Design at Dokuz Eylül University’s Fine Arts Faculty and has successfully run his own studio in Izmir, Turkey, since 2016.
The appreciation for what came between, applied to timely style defines the work of the daring minimalism that Oksal produces. With multiple awards to his name, he puts his mark on many stages, from board games and card decks to posters and publications.
While chatting with Oksal, we take a look at mysticism in design through Oksal’s eyes, explore where his inspiration comes from and what are the overarching principles of his design work. Enjoy the read!
Ancient Cultures as a Primary Source of Inspiration
Deeply inspired by his cultural heritage, Oksal grew up in a country with a rich blend of history. With what is believed to have been one of humanity’s first established towns erected in 6,500 b.c., Turkey has served since time immemorial as sacred ground to societies with influences from Asia, Europe, and The Middle East. Oksal described how he is influenced by this blended culture:
“The biggest benefit of being born here is the motivation to understand and research many cultures and civilizations. Ancient Rome, Byzantine Empire, Lydians (Anatolian Civilisation), Ottoman Empire etc. Fascinating objects, patterns and designs were discovered in each period.”
The Roman Empire in particular feeds Oksal’s creativity, with its mesclage of sculptures in art and architecture. The heavenly system has almost always reflected the governmental order of the time. Similarly we can see how the Roman order viewed itself in its version of the heavens. Mysticism in Design from Roman times has inspired Oksal. Helooks to buildings and architecture to understand the Roman societal structure.
“My favorite period is the Roman Empire. A great culture, both art and myths that reflect as much as today. Roman art, sculptures and architectural features in the historical ruin are very fascinating. I also find the various gods, goddesses and stories that emerged during this period inspiring.”
Inspirations from Murat Palta’s Mysticism
For example, “a wonderful project that blends ‘oriental’ Ottoman motifs and contemporary ‘western’ cinema” that Oksal loves is by Murat Palta. Here’s how he renders popular culture elements in the traditional style of old Ottoman miniature art:
Inspirations from Efil Turk’s Oriental Symbolism
Here’s one more inspiration that Oksal has shared with us. It’s a paper clip set created by Efil Turk. The importance of blending “modern and usable” with “inspired by tradition” were two factors that Yoselik described. This paper clip is modeled from the motifs found on Kilim Turkish Rugs. It’s a prime example of how symbolism can lead to new ideas.
Mythology and Deities as a Source of Inspiration
Oksal also has a fond interest in the mythology and deities that emerged throughout the interlocking histories of his birthplace. For example, here’s one of his personal projects — a Jikanvis set for dream interpretation. As you can see from the image below, there’s a goddess in trance at the center of the box cover:
The symbols used within the graphics denote: A place to sleep (room), Time to fall asleep (hourglass), Sleep and transition to the dream phase (gate) and Reaching the dream point (ladder). Other symbols are associated with luck and abundance. It’s a fantastic examples of Oksal’s elegant version of Mysticism in Design.
Continue reading at https://karalyte.com/mysticism-in-design-a-conversation-with-oksal-yesilok/
Originally published at https://karalyte.com on April 6, 2022.
