Isik Sayarer was born to Turkish immigrant parents in England in October 1982. She was educated in England in the fields of art and environmentalism. She primarily exhibits and works with Norwegian/Swedish artist Eva Knutsdotter, under the moniker, FourthLand, which focuses on nature and the environment.
Artist Isik Sayarer was born to Turkish immigrant parents in England in October 1982. In 2000, she achieved a Business and Technology Education Council Level 3 in Tropical Habitat Conservation Madagascar. From 2002 until 2005 she studied for a BSc in Environmental Science and Development Studies at the University of Sussex. Following this, in 2006 Sayarer enrolled into a Foundation in Art and Design course at Sir John Cass School of Art and Design, London and then continued on a part-time BA in Fine Art between 2007 and 2011 at the same university. Additionally, Sayarer also trained in Shakti dance, movement medicine, yoga, Celtic Womb Mandala, Natural Dyes from plants and, in 2006, undertook a course in Artistic Expression for adults with learning disabilities at the Larches Trust.
Sayarer’s oeuvre thematically explores the synthesis between materiality, sensory perception, and the natural world. With a career spanning over a decade in teaching, Sayarer explores the relationships among natural and bodily cycles in relation to sculpture and architecture. This approach is rooted in a background in Environmental Science and Development Studies, and addresses a wide array of subjects ranging from tribal agricultural rituals to Community Ecology, extending into the realms of organic agriculture and plant-based healing methods. This approach has led to engagements with British Folk Medicine, the Wildlife Trust, and the Chelsea Physic Garden, where she delivered workshops for different audiences. Sayarer transitioned into the arts, initially through painting, later sculpture and textiles, and evolving into performance, especially dance; however, regardless of the medium, her approach continues to be inspired by the belief in the transformative power of 'making'. This is evident in her commitment to traditional crafts such as felt making and wood carving, which she views as vehicles for an alchemical change of one’s thinking process. Since, 2008 she has often collaborated with the Norwegian/Swedish artist Eva Knutsdotter and the duo co-founded FourthLand in 2011, with a base on London. It functions as both a conceptual space and a creative practice aimed at exploring the interconnectedness of life. Through various artistic mediums, including sculpture, installation, and performance, Sayarer and Knutsdotter seek to bridge the divide between people and the land, offering new narratives as remedies to modern society’s disillusionment and isolation. Their work aims to re-engage with marginalised wisdom to foster new forms of social and environmental awareness. They are committed to traditional crafts, natural materials, communal storytelling, collaborative projects, and ceremonies.
In 2021, FourthLand exhibited Call to Holy Ground at London’s St Andrew’s Church and the Shri Nathji Sanatan Hindu Temple. Commissioned by Art and Christianity - a religious organisation focusing on establishing connections between art, Christianity and other religions - and supported by a number of funding bodies including the Arts Council of England, the exhibition addressed the global ecological crisis via an installation, sound walk, and a collaborative film featuring women elders from St Andrew’s Church and Shri Nathji Sanatan Hindu Temple. By mixing nature, sanctity, and belief, the exhibition offered an alternative ‘scripture’ of the earth that transcends religious, generational, and cultural divides. Via different recordings from Epping Forest the exhibition also underscored the significance of daily ritualistic acts within a broader ecological and spiritual context. In 2024, the duo set up The Land we Dream, a collaborative initiative with Waltham Forest communities to produce a collective narrative and communal performance around the idea of a thriving environment. As part of Tate Liverpool’s programme, Radical Landscape, FourthLand explore how the environment can serve as a muse for creativity, a bridge for community bonding, and a platform for expressing political and cultural dissent via the pioneering environmentalism of William Morris.
Sayarer has built a diverse career intertwining art, education, and environmental conservation over the years. Beginning in 2005, she served as a Research Associate for Ethnomedica at Kew Gardens, focusing on the intersection of ethnobotany and medicine. The following year, in 2006, Sayarer was engaged as Education Officer at The Wildlife Trust, dedicating efforts to wildlife conservation education. This passion for environmental education continued from 2007 to 2008 when she became the Education Officer at London's Chelsea Physic Garden, further enhancing their expertise in botany and environmental education. In 2008, a new chapter began, with a long-standing association with Bow Arts Trust as an Education Artist, a role held until 2016, and where Sayarer blended artistic creativity with educational initiatives. Concurrently, since 2008, Sayarer has been an artist associated with SASA Works Architecture. Isik Sayarer lives and works in London. Her work is not held in any UK public collections.
Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Isik Sayarer]
Publications related to [Isik Sayarer] in the Ben Uri Library