The presence of social reality in time defines what we call 'history.' Despite the fact that time has a fluid structure, not everything in life and society progresses at the same pace. We live through ordinary moments almost unnoticed, while sudden changes are marked as events worth remembering. Our imagination of the future, in turn, permeates our understanding of time's fluidity, embodying dreams and predictions that shape our present. In this way, the imagination of the future becomes a reflection of a meaningful past, expanding the horizons of our perception and helping us comprehend identity and the potential for development.

Cinema, as a form of art, broadens our temporal horizons, allowing us to immerse ourselves in different time spaces and experience others' stories through the emotions of their characters. Çağatay Odabaş' exhibition Light. Shadow. Scenes. illustrates the concept of time through iconic scenes of cinema, demonstrating how the fluidity of time affects our perception of reality and our sense of self.

The candle is an allegory of the fluidity of time. It remains unchanged as an object over time, yet its burning and extinguishing are unique each time, offering a direct parallel to human life. The timeless and allegorical nature of the candle has been used as the primary light source in the works of great artists such as Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and Georges de La Tour. The allegorical nature of the candle has also inspired modern artists, including Gerhard Richter. 

Undoubtedly, the candle is a frequent attribute and source of light in cinema. Light is a critical element on both canvas and screen. Tension is created in both mediums through the dynamics of light and shadow; the contrast between light and dark is used to evoke specific emotions in the viewer. The candle amplifies dramatic effect by providing an intense light that highlights the figure on the stage. The chiaroscuro (light-shadow) technique, pioneered by Caravaggio, continues to shape the perception of time, space, and mood in cinema. The Italian-American cinematographer and three-time Oscar winner Gaetano 'Gilberto' De Laurentiis once said: “Every one of my films is a resolution of the conflict between light and shadows. Light reveals the truth, while shadows hide it.”

Through the interplay of light and shadow, a sense of the viewer’s presence within the frame is created. The viewer becomes part of the artwork, almost as though entering into a dialogue with the artist’s characters. Artist Çağatay Odabaş uses the candle as a protagonist in his artworks, hiding the figures out from the canvases and bringing the light itself to the forefront. Odabaş’s exhibition, Light. Shadow. Scenes., gives us the opportunity to step into the role of the main character in a film illuminated by candlelight, leaving us in intimate dialogue with ourselves.

An important aspect of the exhibition is the gallery space that reinforces this concept and enhances the reality of the moment. The exhibition brings together antique objects, recreating the film frames Odabaş used to create his 'scenes.'