BEWITCHING: Dervishes-Beliefs Dancing by Mehmet Gunyeli. Photo by Umer Nangiana
By Umer Nangiana
Charming, meaningful and hypnotically engaging, some of the best works by five masters of photography and art from Turkey have been put together by Qatar Photographic Society (QPS) to embellish its recent exhibition.
‘A Selection of Turkish Art’ currently on display at Building 18, Katara Cultural Village, is nothing but pure delight for art lovers in general, and those of conceptual and artistic photography in particular. The moment you enter the exhibition hall, the walls decorated with large size art pieces by the legendary Turkish artists would mesmerise you.
You would want to stand and stare at each one of them for hours. The most striking of all the conspicuous works is conceptual photography of Mehmet Gunyeli. Whether it is ‘Dervishes-Beliefs Dancing’ or ‘Angels-Street of Dreams’, Gnuyeli’s work is simply marvellous.
It has a language of its own and, like all conceptual art, carries a powerful sensation. Born in Istanbul, Gunyeli is a graduate in Political Sciences. He started photography in 1980s and went on to win awards for his clicks besides participating in multiple exhibitions both inside and outside Turkey.
Gunyeli is known as being against cultural globalisation. He went to many countries that he sees as capable of protecting themselves against global rivalry and completed his photography project ‘The Colours of Earth’. He has four photography books such as Viva Cuba Libre, India, Dervishes and Sea of Fate. His photographs have been placed in the collections of Istanbul Modern Museum, Elgiz Contemporary Art Museum, Borusan Contemporary Museum and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
As you turn around, Balkan Naci Islimyeli presents his Doom Series of Digital Photography with Manipulation. It is a set of six same size vertical photographs with letters printed in white on them. The photographs together with their reflection on the glaring floor underneath form a pleasant view for the eye even before going into the details of the concept behind the installation.
Born in 1947 in Adapazari, Turkey, Islimyeli has so far held 54 solo exhibitions. His works have been collected by national and international museums and he has served as art director in movies.
Now you turn to your left where these appealing bright colour sceneries have been constantly interfering with your focus with their bright hues. Oil on Canvas by Devrim Erbil shows Istanbul in red, yellow and green.
All three paintings are unique. They are beautiful. A recipient of three international and 11 national awards, Erbil has so far held 54 solo and countless group exhibitions. His works have been exhibited in more than 20 countries, including Germany, Switzerland, UK, India, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Belgium etc.
Besides teaching at various art institutions in his country, Erbil has presided over top art associations departments. He lives and works in Istanbul. There is one installation of conceptual art by Bubi, the Turkish artist and a set of mixed media on canvas by artist Ergin Inan in one corner of the exhibition hall. They add to the charm of the exhibition with their thought-provoking ideas and execution. The exhibition is running till May 16 from 10am to 10pm every day.
