The “My Face Shows My Hope” and “Elbistan” exhibitions at the TAV Gallery
In its commitment to establishing a multi-dimensional relationship with its passengers, the TAV Group has established the TAV Gallery, which it uses both to promote Turkish traditional arts to a worldwide audience and to support childhood education. TAV loves to create projects that put smiles on children’s faces.
TAMER YILMAZ / PHOTOGRAPHY ARTIST, BENNU GEREDE / PHOTOGRAPHY ARTIST, EBRU UYGUN / TOÇEV Chairman, NİHAT ODABAŞI / PHOTOGRAPHY ARTIST
CHILDREN THAT LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH HOPE: The TAV Gallery is hosting the exhibition “My Face Shows My Hope,” where six of the most prominent photographers in Turkey have captured the dreams of village school children through photographs. The exhibition was organized as part of the “Hurrah for Our School” campaign started in 2005 for the renovation of village schools that were not properly equipped. The campaign, which up to now has made it possible for around 200 village schools to be repaired, has been jointly sponsored by TOÇEV, Show TV and the Ministry of Education. In the “My Face Shows My Hope” exhibition, children in schools awaiting repair reveal their hopes and dreams to the cameras of
Okan Bayülgen, Bennu Gerede, Nihat Odabaşı, Serdar Bilgili,Tamer Yılmaz and Tahsin Aydoğmuş. The exhibition, which offers international visitors to Istanbul Ataturk Airport a poignant glimpse at the hopes of disadvantaged children, was launched on 9 July drawing the participation of TAV Airports Holding Corporate Communications Coordinator Bengi Vargül, ATÜ General Manager Ersan Arcan, TOÇEV Chairman Ebru Uygun, Show TV Corporate Communications Director Esin Şeker and photographers Bennu Gerede, Nihat Odabaşı, Tamer Yılmaz and Tahsin Aydoğmuş.The book, postcards and posters of the “My Face Shows My Hope” exhibition are on sale at the Old Bazaar within the ATÜ Duty Free area for anyone wishing to contribute to the “Hurrah for Our School” campaign.
Bennu Gerede
“Going to different parts of Turkey and making discoveries enriches you. We had a very valuable experience through this project. Before taking the photographs I visited the school and set my locations and my frames. The children were very affectionate and relaxed. My photographs of faces are blurred on purpose. Rather than showing all children with their separate faces I preferred to create a different effect. Being able to help children through art is both very meaningful and exciting.”
Nihat Odabaşı
“In the areas we went we met cheerful, genuine and innocent children. But they go to school under very primitive conditions. I felt as if I were stepping 200 years back in time. But in spite of everything these children are happy; they have not lost their joy for life. In my photographs I wanted to reflect their gaiety.”
MARBLING ART ON DISPLAY AT THE TERMINAL:
Seventy works created by Hikmet Barutçugil, one of the leading names in the art of marbling, and by students of the Istanbul Ebru Evi (Istanbul Marbling House) have been collected for the “Ebristan” exhibition on display at the TAV Gallery. The exhibition includes works prepared with innovative techniques combining the art of marbling with miniatures, engraving and painting. At the opening, Hikmet Barutçugil and his students demonstrated how marbling is done in a marbling vat and gave guests an opportunity to try the art. At the opening Barutçugil thanked TAV Airports, expressing his happiness at being hosted in such an important place as the Atatürk Airport; entrance and exit for the city of Istanbul. He also conveyed his gratitude that this art form and the philosophy behind it are being exposed to such a wide audience. A graduate of the Fine Arts Academy, Barutçugil’s interest in handicrafts was sparked through the encouragement of his calligraphy teacher, the late Professor Emin Barın, whom he met in the first years of his university education. While he continued to work in calligraphy his love of marbling also grew. He carries out his work and trains students who are captivated by this traditional art form at the Istanbul Ebru Evi, a historical mansion located in Üsküdar dating back to the 1830s.
Hikmet Barutçugil and his students showed marbling techniques to passengers at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport, enabling them to experience this art first hand.
HİKMET BARUTÇUGİL AND THE ART OF MARBLING
How did you come to be captivated by the art of marbling?
I began to feel an interest for handicrafts during my first years at the Fine Arts Academy, with our calligraphy teacher, the late Professor Emin Barın’s encouragement. My interest in calligraphy then led to an interest in the art of marbling. That was in 1973. Ever since then I have been practicing and teaching this art.
Where are you working now?
We have a center in Üsküdar called “Istanbul Ebru Evi” (Istanbul Marbling House), which includes classrooms, workshops and galleries. It is a mansion dating back to the 1830s. In this center we teach classes and hold conferences and exhibitions with the aim of developing and promoting the art of marbling.
What do you think of the interest in the art of marbling?
Just as is the case with other traditional arts, an ever increasing interest is currently being shown in the art of marbling, both in Turkey and abroad. People are interested in this art because it is distilled from history and it has a certain depth. The art of marbling, which we have neglected for 200 years--since the Westernisation movement of the Tanzimat (Reform) Period--has now entered a period of revival.
What are your impressions regarding the exhibition that opened at the International Terminal?
The Atatürk Airport International Terminal is an excellent venue for promoting this art and the philosophy behind it, in that it is an entrance and exit for the city of Istanbul. The interest shown by both Turkish and foreign passengers is very gratifying. Foreign tourists show a special interest in the work that we carry out with marbling vats. They go to their planes holding the marbling pieces they have made with the help of my students.
Index
“Going to different parts of Turkey and making discoveries enriches you. We had a very valuable experience through this project. Before taking the photographs I visited the school and set my locations and my frames. The children were very affectionate and relaxed. My photographs of faces are blurred on purpose. Rather than showing all children with their separate faces I preferred to create a different effect. Being able to help children through art is both very meaningful and exciting.”
“In the areas we went we met cheerful, genuine and innocent children. But they go to school under very primitive conditions. I felt as if I were stepping 200 years back in time. But in spite of everything these children are happy; they have not lost their joy for life. In my photographs I wanted to reflect their gaiety.”
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