I begin my process by going out to the streets of Istanbul with my sketchbook in hand and take in my surroundings. I aim to capture the spirit of my subjects in the lively streets, tea gardens, bars, and other performance areas that make up the heart of my country.
“I think the images I paint of the human body act as a bridge for me, a way to express to others what I feel from the people I see in daily life.”
These sketches are done quickly, so the figures, and the shapes around them, are distilled and abbreviated. I value this abbreviation because it becomes the essence of a pose, mood, or character. I then take these sketches back to my studio and use them in subsequent paintings.
What Does the Figure Mean in Your Work?
Human bodies and faces embody many deep emotions in the routine struggle in life. As an observer, when you watch daily life, you can clearly feel these emotions. I think the images I paint of the human body act as a bridge for me, a way to express to others what I feel from the people I see in daily life.
What are your inspirations? Which artists working with the figure—historic or contemporary—are you inspired by?
My introduction to the art world began when I was nine or ten. I was given an art magazine and I can clearly remember turning the pages and being mesmerized by the works of Van Gogh and Picasso. These painters, as well as heavy brush strokes, the use of brilliant reds, yellows, and blues, inspired me then and continue to inspire me today. Additionally, Edward Munch, Oscar Kokocska, and Francis Bacon are the main figurative painters that have influenced my work.
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