Türkan Şoray and Yalçın Gökçebağ's joint exhibition at Gazhane...
At her joint exhibition with Yalçın Gökçebağ, "Meeting in the Garden of Memories," Türkan Şoray expressed her disappointment: "We will not forget Kadir İnanır, why did you remind us of him during this happy moment?" Responding to a journalist's question, "Was there a painting or artwork in the exhibition that reminded us of him (Kadir İnanır)?", Şoray, visibly moved, said, "We have never forgotten our friend, and we will never forget him. Why did you remind us of him during this happy moment?"
Turkish cinema's living legend, Türkan Şoray, and Yalçın Gökçebağ, one of the most important masters of contemporary Turkish painting, have come together in the same exhibition for the first time. However, "Meeting in the Garden of Memories" at the Gazhane Museum is not merely an exhibition bringing together the works of two artists; it offers a powerful experience that unites the memory of cinema and the memory of painting in the same space, guiding visitors through personal memories.
On one side, Türkan Şoray, who brings to the canvas the women's stories etched in the memories of millions for years… On the other, Yalçın Gökçebağ, who immortalizes the nature of Anatolia, his childhood, village life, and its people through his paintings… Two different art disciplines, two different narrative languages, and two different memories meet in the same exhibition around a common feeling.
While Şoray's paintings depict the inner world of women, their loneliness, their resilience, and the cinematic characters that left a mark on their memories, Gökçebağ's paintings make visible the Anatolian countryside, childhood memories, nature, and the bond between man and the land.
Therefore, "Meeting in the Garden of Memories" transcends being merely an art event showcasing paintings. The exhibition transforms into a multi-layered narrative inviting visitors to trace the path of both individual and collective memory.
One of the most striking sections of the exhibition is Türkan Şoray's paintings that have never been shared with the public before. In these works, which she created in the quiet corners of her home instead of her studio for many years, Şoray… She conveys the states of femininity, the emotions experienced and the spiritual world of the characters that leave a mark on the cinema memory, on the canvas.
Special pieces belonging to the memory of Turkish cinema complete this narrative. The costumes used by Şoray in his unforgettable films, especially the memorable scarlet scarlet in the movie Selvi Boylum Al Yazılım, film strips, cinema objects, mirrors and special installations, introduce the visitor not only to the pictures but also to the memory of cinema.
The other part of the exhibition includes Yalçın Gökçebağ's latest works. The painter's paintings focusing on nature; It reflects the Anatolian countryside, village life, childhood memories and the bond people establish with the geography they live in, with a simple but powerful narrative.
One of them depicts the inner world of a person; The other is the world in which people live. One describes emotions, the other describes nature. However, there is a common word that brings the two together: "Memory".
For this very reason, Meeting in the Garden of Memories is not just an exhibition that brings together the works of two artists; The exhibition stands out as a memory experience that brings together Türkiye's cinema, art, and collective memory under one roof.
The "Meeting in the Garden of Memories" exhibition, which unites Türkiye's cinema, art, and collective memory under one roof, was realized through a collaboration between IMM Heritage and IMM Culture.
Curated by art writer İbrahim Karaoğlu, the exhibition features Berna Bağlam and Zeki Hozer as art coordinators, and Bircan Usallı Silan as art director. Opened on June 13th at the Gazhane Museum and attracting significant interest since its opening, the exhibition also included a meeting between Türkan Şoray and Yalçın Gökçebağ and members of the press. IMM Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, Kadıköy Mayor Mesut Kösedağı, and IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat also attended the meeting.
Yalçın Gökçebağ: Bringing people together with art is our duty
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Yalçın Gökçebağ described how his long experience as a cameraman, alongside his artistic life, brought a different perspective to his paintings.
Stating that he started working as a cameraman at TRT in 1972 and worked on various productions ranging from news to documentaries and television films, Gökçebağ said that the compositions in his paintings are nourished by the visual memory that developed during those years.
"The paintings you will see here are actually what a cameraman sees through a viewfinder. I combined my experience from my years as a cameraman with my painting to create a different perspective for myself," said Gökçebağ, adding that in his works he depicts the nature, rural life, and people of Anatolia with his own unique perspective.
Emphasizing the importance of art reaching wider audiences, Gökçebağ said, "It is our duty to familiarize people with art, to get them to hang paintings on walls. We are trying to spread this from Istanbul to Anatolia as well."
The artist, who said he continued to create even after the age of 80, also made assessments regarding Türkan Şoray's works during his visit to the exhibition.
Emphasizing that Şoray's paintings should not be seen merely as portraits, Gökçebağ said, "It's not enough to just look at Türkan Şoray's paintings and move on. What's important is to reach the content of these portraits and the emotion they convey. She depicts the emotions that remain in her memory from the women she portrayed in the films she acted in. She brings the psychological world of the women of that era to the canvas. Therefore, these works are expressionistic works that convey emotion."
Türkan Şoray: I painted the traces left in my heart by the women I portrayed
Turkish cinema's living legend, Türkan Şoray, expressed her happiness at having her paintings exhibited alongside Yalçın Gökçebağ's works, saying, "I am experiencing the honor and happiness of having my paintings exhibited alongside such a valuable artist."
Explaining that her interest in painting dates back to her youth, Şoray said that whenever she saw a blank piece of paper, she immediately wanted to draw something. The artist stated that she very much wanted to participate in painting workshops and dedicate a larger part of her life to painting, but this interest remained in the background for many years because cinema was always her priority.
"I would have loved to dedicate my life to painting. However, cinema was always my priority. Therefore, painting, like many other things in my life, remained in the background," said Şoray, explaining that in her early works she painted flowers and nature, and did oil paintings and charcoal drawings.
Emphasizing that a strong love is at the heart of painting, Şoray said, "To be able to create something, you first need to love it very much. I understood that."
Şoray stated that over time she placed women and the state of womanhood at the center of her paintings, and that the traces left on her body and soul by the characters she portrayed throughout her film career are reflected in her works.
"Because I am a woman and I have portrayed many different female characters in my films, their traces remained on my body and heart. I wanted to express what I felt and to paint these states of womanhood," said Şoray; She explained that she transferred the housewife, the working woman, the woman struggling to make a living, and the woman who has achieved economic independence onto the canvas from her own perspective.
The artist pointed out that her works are nourished not only by her imagination but also by images and emotions that remained in her memory from the films she acted in, saying, "Some images from the films I acted in, the experiences and feelings of the women I portrayed, stayed in my mind. I think I reflected these in my paintings."
Stating that her works, which had not been seen for many years, were waiting in a warehouse in the dark, Şoray explained that the story of the works leading to the exhibition began with a visit to Yalçın Gökçebağ's home.
Şoray said that she brought her works out with great hesitation when Gökçebağ wanted to see the paintings, and that she was surprised and happy by the positive feedback she received, saying, "These paintings sat in a warehouse, in the dark, for many years. When Mr. Yalçın wanted to see them, I brought them out with great hesitation. What he said about the paintings both surprised and delighted me. When the exhibition offer came, I couldn't say no."
Experiencing the excitement of presenting her paintings to art lovers for the first time, Şoray concluded her speech with the words, "You will see them shortly. I hope you like my paintings."
Nuri Aslan: Türkan Şoray is our shared memory
At the opening of the exhibition, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan also gave a speech. Aslan both shared Ekrem İmamoğlu's message and drew attention to the place of Türkan Şoray and Yalçın Gökçebağ in Türkiye's cultural memory.
The exhibition begins with Türkan Şoray's cinematic memory
The journey in the "Meeting in the Garden of Memories" exhibition begins with the traces of Türkan Şoray's cinematic memory. From the very first step, visitors are greeted by the memorable red headscarf she used in the unforgettable Turkish film "Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım" (The Girl with the Red Scarf). This symbolic piece, which has remained in the memories of millions on the silver screen for years, appears this time not as a film scene, but as one of the most striking objects of the exhibition.
After the section featuring costumes, cinematic objects, and film reels, visitors begin to wander among Türkan Şoray's paintings. Each painting is more than just a picture; it tells a story distilled from the artist's life, the characters she portrayed, and the women's stories that left a mark on her memory.
One of the works Şoray focuses on most is a painting inspired by the film "Sultan Gelin," in which she starred years ago. The artist recalls that in the film she portrayed a peasant girl resigned to her fate, married off in exchange for a bride price, and explains that the beads used in the painting were a gift from the actor who played her father in the film.
"I've kept them for years. Every time I look at these beads, I remember that suffering, resigned peasant woman. She inspired me, and I transferred her image to my work," said Şoray, sharing the story behind the painting. She stated that the characters she portrayed years ago still guide her creative output.
In her other works in the exhibition, Şoray explained that she transferred to canvas the silent cry of a woman who has suffered violence, the hopeful face of a happy woman who has regained her freedom, and the emotions that remained in her memory from the film "Dönüş" (Return), which she also directed.
One of the most emotional works was a portrait she created for her daughter, Yağmur Ünal. In this painting, where she surrounded her daughter with flowers, Şoray depicted the feeling of motherhood and the traces filtered from her past films with an expressive narrative.
Among the artist's works were a painting dedicated to a mother and another drawing attention to girls married at a young age. Stating that she transferred her deep sorrow for child brides to the canvas, Şoray expressed that she wanted her paintings to not only be an aesthetic narrative but also to contribute to social memory.
As visitors move among the paintings, they are accompanied by a special screening of film strips that bring to life the memory of Turkish cinema throughout the exhibition. Thus, visitors have the opportunity to re-experience not only the paintings but also Türkan Şoray's cinematic journey spanning decades.
This journey, beginning with Türkan Şoray's world of cinema and emotions, continues in the second part of the exhibition with Yalçın Gökçebağ's unique paintings reflecting Anatolia, nature, village life, and childhood memories.
Gökçebağ's works complement Şoray's narrative, which delves into the inner world of humanity, this time with the memory of nature, life, and Anatolia.
Following the exhibition tour, Türkan Şoray answered questions from the press, including one about the recently deceased veteran actor Kadir İnanır. Upon a journalist's question, "Was there a painting or artwork in the exhibition that reminded you of him?", Şoray, visibly moved, responded, "We have never forgotten our friend, and we never will. Why did you remind us of him during this happy moment?"
The exhibition "Meeting in the Garden of Memories," which can be visited at the Museum Gasworks until August 30th, brings together Türkan Şoray's emotions filtered through cinema and Yalçın Gökçebağ's brushstrokes reaching towards Anatolia in Türkiye's shared memory. Perhaps that's why "Meeting in the Garden of Memories" transforms into an encounter that unites Türkiye's cinematic and artistic memory in the same emotion, rather than simply bringing together the works of the two artists in the same hall.
Written by: Öykü Özgeren
Source: https://t24.com.tr/kultur-sanat/hatiralar-bahcesinde-bulusma-turkan-soray-ve-yalcin-gokcebag-ortak-hafizada-bulustu,1337954?_t=1785021038551