Turkish born artist Derya Ozparlak’s beautiful finely hand-hammered steel sculptures are designed to represent modern capitalism; the culture that binds us to our work and limits our freedom. With ‘Blowing in the Wind,’ the slender figure of a young woman in a dress and ballerina slippers (one en pointe just touching the ground), long locks flying behind her, is being carried aloft by the wind as she clutches a bouquet of brightly colored balloons. The tension between the earthly reality of the human condition and the lofty desire to escape is a favorite theme.

"Since I began working in Canada, the metaphor of the balloon concept has developed. When I observed a downtown area, it was dominated by skyscrapers. I always saw the same problem with white collar workers. They were in a rush, working very hard so I said to myself, they are living in an invisible prison and that has never changed." -Ozparlak

Since completing a BFA from the Anadolu University in Turkey, Ozparlak has exhibited in group and solo shows in Canada and internationally in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Lebanon and the US. She now lives and works in Toronto. Ozparlak's highly detailed sculptures are held in private and corporate collections in Canada and internationally in Istanbul, Berlin, Columbo and Capri.