Shining Light on Turkish Art

Art is just one of the many ways countries around the globe connect with one another. Different areas may have different practices, laws, traditions and cultural norms, but art is art.

The Embassy of Turkey in Canada and Terra Art is putting on an art exhibition, “Mavi Art – Colours From Anatolia and Beyond.” The opening reception will be held on Wednesday June 1 at 6 p.m. at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts located on 310 St Patrick Street. The Turkish Ambassador to Canada Selçuk Ünal, expressed how the exhibit is focusing on furthering cultural ties between Canada and Turkey.

“The cultural ties between our countries also provide a platform for future cooperation as the two nations continue to re-discover each other in this pleasant way,” said Ambassador Ünal. “As we embark upon building a common social history in openness and respect for each other’s culture, these are the very elements we must build on today and tomorrow.”

The exhibition will feature some vibrant artwork by a number of artists, including renowned Turkish contemporary painter Mustafa Çetin. Using raw colours, shapes and textures, Cetin brings bursts of excitement into his everyday lifestyle and experiences. He paints a variety of familiar scenes like landscapes and cityscapes then abstracts them to showcase a world rich in perspective and full of life.

“The natural world is one of my inspirations. My paintings strive to capture the place where city and nature meet. There are buildings and lakes, people and birds, sounds and drama, and especially trees, which are a source of peace and perspective,” Cetin says of his artwork.

Other artists featured at the gallery include Sara Bilge Caglar with her poetic paintings, Sevim Onen, who is inspired by Turkish folklore and nature, Vladimir Topal sprinkles his happiness onto a canvas and Hulya Coskun expresses a whirlwind of emotions through her work.

“In my paintings, I use the female figure in different dimensions and forms,” says Hulya Coskun, explaining her style. “I express their sadness, shyness, beauty, ugliness and timidness in a realistic and romantic way, while I reflect on the canvas the folkloric characteristics of the women who carry the contemporary stance inside them by combining plastic elements and miniature tradition.”

At the exhibition you have the opportunity to meet the artists and see their work. The gallery is open to the public and is free of charge. Beginning on June 1, experience Turkey in all of its glory; the food, the drinks, and of course, the artwork.

To find out more about the event, you can visit St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts.