Works selected from Türkiye İş Bankası's Art Collection have begun to be presented to art lovers in various cities across Anatolia through the "Art for Everyone: Anatolian Exhibitions" project.
The project aims to highlight the cultural richness of Anatolia and introduce young generations growing up in these lands to art. The first stop was the Çal district of Denizli, the birthplace of İbrahim Çallı, a prominent figure in Turkish painting.
The exhibition, organized specifically for Çallı's 143rd birthday, featured a special selection of the artist's works, including "Woman Smelling a Rose," "Magnolias," "Fishermen," and "Landscape in Front of Bebek Pier."
The event was hosted by İş Sanat General Manager Zuhal Üreten and attended by Prof. Dr. Gül İrepoğlu, Founding Curator of the Türkiye İş Bankası Painting and Sculpture Museum.
Speaking at the opening, Zuhal Üreten emphasized the importance of bringing art to all segments of society, noting that the works produced by painters who were assigned to various parts of Anatolia after receiving their education in Europe hold a significant place in İş Bankası's collection. "Inspired by the past, we now want to bring these paintings back to the people of Anatolia," she said.
Üreten explained that they plan to revive the idea of a small art gallery previously established in İş Bankası branches. "When we learned that Çallı's birthday was July 13th, we immediately moved the exhibition to the summer period. Today, we are here with six of the artist's works. I hope that one day, the children of Çallı's hometown will remember this day," she said.
Üreten stated that the Anatolian exhibitions will continue, announcing that a new selection will be exhibited in Milas on July 26-27, featuring works by Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, his student Yalçın Gökçebağ, and his teacher Turan Erol.
Prof. Dr. Gül İrepoğlu highlighted İbrahim Çallı's artistic personality and influence, stating that he left his mark on the generation of 1914, which eventually became known as the "Çallı Generation." İrepoğlu provided information about the life and art of Çallı, who said, "Life is too short for art. Don't cry; remember me with a smile," and introduced the exhibited works to the audience.
Creative workshops were also held as part of the event. The exhibition, opened at the İş Bankası branch in Denizli's Çal district, will be open to visitors free of charge today and tomorrow from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Source: https://www.aydinlik.com.tr/fotogaleri/denizlinin-cal-ilcesinde-basladi-herkes-icin-sanat-536220?sayfa=6