Download - Gizem Saka
- 1. Gizem Saka
Contemporary Turkish Painter
Art makes me free.
2. Background Information
Gizem was born in 1978 in Istanbul, Turkey.
She is a self taught painter, who began with charcoal drawings and
sculpture.
Between 1995 1999 she worked in artists studios before moving to
New York in 1999, where she is currently living and painting.
3. Artist Statement
My art is about experimenting with shapes and colours. I see arts
as an expression of feelingsbut more importantly as a domain for
freedom. Painting has given me the flexibility to expand in all
directions: expanding along the surface of the canvas vertically
and horizontally and then going deep into the painting, which
completes the idea of space and movement in that space. Its vast.
www.artquotes.net/artists/saka
4. Gizem uses a lot of colour in her works, which emphasis the
distorted shapes that she creates. The distorted shapes are a
natural consequence of using the same canvas consistently. When she
is unsatisfied with her work she turn the painting upside down and
tries to super impose another image.
As we go through her paintings, see if you can recognise which
paintings she may have done this with.
5. Major Influences
Matisses Green Stripe (Madame Matisse)
SakasSimple Thoughts
Henri Matisse's work has a strong influence in Sakas, who created
works full of warmth and for personal contentment.
Didactic works do not appeal to Saka.
Saka believes artworks should tell a story, making the viewer aware
of how other people feel, how they live and how they love.
6. Matisses Woman
Matisses influence:
Saka took one of Henri Matisse's sketches he made on the corner of
one of his books, and gave the woman a different face. She also
altered the original by adding colour.
How do you think colourand shape have been used to enhance features
in Matisses Woman?
7. Istanbul Houses
The paintingIstanbul Houses is greatlyinfluenced by Gizems cultural
background, growing up in Istanbul.
Sakahas a strong desire to paint different aspects of the Turkish
culture andof places in Istanbul.
8. Istanbul through Sakas EyesThe two different sides
Blue Sky
Crowded City
9. The Woman Collection
This collection of paintings are inspired byeveryday activities.If
it is raining, Gizem will paint a woman with an umbrella. When she
is not in the mood to do anything, she may paint a woman sitting
and thinking.
10. What emotions do you feel from these paintings?
Tired? Relaxation? Sleepy?
11. Functional Art
Owls on a Tree
Nap Time
The clock is a progression from the tree.
Nap time actually shows the time through a scene.
12. Sailing Ships Collection
Inspired by 17th Century Ottoman Iznik Tiles
13. Colour, Line and Shape
Take a close look at Fisherman at Night.
How have each of the above elements been used to create this
effective oil painting?
14. Livestrong
Saka painted Livestrong to donate to the Lance Armstrong
foundation.
The painting got auctioned at their annual fundraising gala in May
2006.
What elements can you recognise in this painting?
15. Bird Collection
When you look at these art works, what shape do you thinks stands
out in each picture?
16. Three Faces of September
This painting is not like most of Sakas works. I think that it has
a great amount of warmth.
Do you agree?
17. Everything else is restrictive and imprisoning, while painting
is like nice clean air so that you can breathe freely.Gizem
Saka
18. References
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/matisse/green-stripe/
http://istanbulgallery.bluearcher.com/default.asp
http://www.artquotes.net/artists/saka/artist-interview.htm
http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk/0607/gizem_saka.htm