Visual explorations for the interpretation of the element of 'espas' in the context of imaginary expression

Imagination, as a means through which individuals strive to transcend reality, has maintained its significance throughout human history. By surpassing the boundaries of the tangible world, individuals have employed imagination and imaginative faculties as effective tools to both interpret the world and attain a deeper understanding of existence. In this context, the art of painting has served as a medium that enables artists to concretely express their desire to go beyond reality, thereby transforming this pursuit into a visual form of expression. During this process, the artist constructs their work by employing plastic elements such as space (espas), rhythm, balance, and harmony; the way in which these elements are implemented plays a critical role in determining the originality of the artwork. This research aims to convey impressions and experiences of nature by transforming them into an original plastic language through practical artistic studies. In this regard, the concepts of imagination and espas have been established as the focal points of the study, and the created compositions have been shaped around these two key notions. Furthermore, during the research process, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on artists and techniques associated with these concepts. In the first chapter, the general framework of the subject is thoroughly presented under the headings of purpose, significance, research questions, sub-questions, assumptions, limitations, definitions, and methodology. The second chapter focuses on the concept of imagination, examining artistic approaches shaped by introspection, particularly those that developed between the 18th and 20th centuries, within the context of their relationship to societal and scientific developments. The third chapter explores the ever-evolving visual characteristics of painting from the 14th to the 21st century. It specifically analyzes how espas has been shaped by various dynamics throughout this transformation and the impact of these changes on the plastic structure of artworks. The fourth chapter provides a general overview of the process that guided the creation of the practical works conducted within the scope of the thesis. This process is explained in detail through three photographs and six canvas paintings. In the latter part of the chapter, a total of fifteen works executed on canvas using oil and acrylic paints are presented, each of which is comprehensively analyzed in terms of their plastic values. Finally, the conclusion chapter summarizes the literature reviewed within the scope of the thesis and presents the findings derived from the practical works conducted on the subject.