Coverage in Poets and Artists, 58th Issue
I am delighted to be featured in Chicago's prestigious magazine 'Poets and Artists'. Among the other featured artists are Alyssa Monks and Cesar Santos. You can order your own copy from blurb
Feathers & Kisses Exhibition, September 2014
Opening speech – Janis Lander
“There has been quite a bit written in the press about this latest exhibition Mertim Gokalp, which shows how much interest this artist is generating. Interviewers have used the term “subjective portraits” – meaning that Mertim deploys techniques designed to shift the focus in a portrait away from social and professional trappings, to the internal emotional landscape of the subject.
In a sense all portrait are subjective, because they are specific, and individual, but in this sense the interviewers mean that Mertim is focusing on the emotional life of the subject, rather than on the role that person plays in an academic or a corporate institution. In terms of the artistic lineage of this kind of approach in portraiture, think not of Hans Holbein’s majestic portrait of King Henry VIII in full regalia, (which by the way, we only know through the copies made by other artists, since the original was lost in a fire) - think rather of Van
Gogh’s self portrait with his ear bandaged.
Mertim Gokalp is as devoted to his profession as any of the artists I have met. He works in the focused, compulsive-obsessive approach that marks all successful artists– contrary to popular belief, making art is not just “selfexpression” – after all, human beings are creative beings – we all “express” ourselves constantly. Making art is a chosen profession. Whether an artist chooses to sculpt in clay or chisel marble, or paint or dance or compose symphonies, all the arts make huge demands of the artist – acquiring the skill set, devoting hours of labour, and developing the conceptual intelligence to take an arsenal of basic techniques and materials and create a painting or a play or a sculpture that speaks to people with a unique voice, communicating a profound insight, or offering some whimsical observation of our shared
human condition. It is in this way that the arts serve the community, and add
to the cultural capital of our civilization. It is at the interface between the intuitive nature of the arts and the scientific nature of technologies that the soul of a civilization is truly reflected.
In terms of their feeling Mertim’s portraits are more whimsical and more fantastical than the heavy psychological portraits by the Symbolists in the 19th and 20th centuries, full of dread and nameless horrors. Mertim’s work is optimistic and joyful in the forward-looking way of our contemporary 21st century world view, and offer the suggestion that isolating personal emotions may veil a greater spiritual dimension where we are all connected.
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LOST 2014 - Leichhardt Open Studio Trail
LOST 2014
I will be opening my gallery to public during the LOST weekend - 8 and 9 March, 2014, between 10am - 3.30pm.
Please spread the word to make sure everyone has an opportunity to join the creative tour, and the chance to get LOST in Leichhardt.
New Show in Washington
My self portrait "I am a bit mad, but that' is okay is selected for a prestigious exhibition that will be held in Washington. Very exciting!!!!
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Borderline Exhibition
The exhibit featured my recent works representing the theme of borderline. The opening night was great fun. I hope everyone enjoyed the night as much as I did.
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| Girl with skull - Mertim Gokalp |
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| I need warmth - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Red Balloon - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Separation - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Scratch - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Occupy - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Out of blue - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Red Carnation - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Transient (Blue Version) - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Wine & Spaghetti - Mertim Gokalp |
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| Hard-wired - Mertim Gokalp |
Borderline: A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts
From Judith Johnson's opening speech at the opening night:
I have been asked to speak tonight as Mertimʼs friend
from our Studio 1+2 Rozelle. Thank you all for coming to his special
night. I consider this an honour and a privilege to welcome you to
Borderline. You may have had time to browse around, considering his
paintings which can be seen as strong, challenging,emotional and thought
provoking. His theme is Borderline Personality Disorder, a significant
mental health condition. It's a pervasive pattern of instability in
interpersonal relationships and self image.Marked impulsive behaviours
begin in early adulthood and itʼs present in a variety of contexts.
The artist takes a critical view of social, political
and cultural issues.These works focus on psychological struggles of
contemporary women, inspired by their responses to particular objects.
It's a subject perfect for Mertim as he feels a very strong bond of
empathy for sufferers,he has an understanding. The works are both
arresting and yet poignant. Who are these girls ?
Mertim always conveys a strong narrative in his
paintings, because he wants to capture deep emotions and the painful
struggles therein. To me, these beautiful yet fragile women are the
modern symbols of Psyche, the Greek Goddess of the Soul.
She was the mythical embodiment of the soul, purified by passions and misfortunes. She was thus prepared for the enjoyment of true and pure happiness. This may be drawing a long bow, but I do know that the soul, and the spirit, and the mind are all highly, personally significant for Mertim. References of the ʻpsycheʼ first from Plato ,through the Middle Ages (where it was known as ʻAnimaʼ) to Freud and Jung.... are today in modern cognitive psychology simplified to one word the MIND.
She was the mythical embodiment of the soul, purified by passions and misfortunes. She was thus prepared for the enjoyment of true and pure happiness. This may be drawing a long bow, but I do know that the soul, and the spirit, and the mind are all highly, personally significant for Mertim. References of the ʻpsycheʼ first from Plato ,through the Middle Ages (where it was known as ʻAnimaʼ) to Freud and Jung.... are today in modern cognitive psychology simplified to one word the MIND.
While he is painting these portraits, Mertim responds
to ʻintense emotion,impulsive behaviours, instabilityʼ as he encourages
them ʻto show their deepest feelings which may reflect fear, anger,
desire or passionʼ Consequently, the portraits are darkly mysterious,
enigmatic and puzzling. They seem suggestive of some other story,some
other dimension. The wistful eyes or the steady gaze demand your
attention. On a lighter note, may I say that we see here, incredible
draughtsmanship and exceptional skills in painting practice. (An
indication of his classical training at University in Istanbul.)
And so...Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Velazquez ( his
ʻpin-upsʼ.. amongst many others!) would surely sit up and take note !!
here is a prodigious talent. Being a finalist this year in the
Archibald, is not the first significant award but is the latest ...and
we expect many successes yet to come.
Judith Johnson
Come visit my studio this weekend!
Our studios are opening its doors to public this weekend.
Get LOST in Leichhardt
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March
One+2 Studios
483 Balmain Rd, Lilyfield
Get LOST in Leichhardt
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March
One+2 Studios
483 Balmain Rd, Lilyfield
Join the LOST trail this weekend and enter the creative realms of local artists. Download a map from http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/LOST.
Archibald Prize 2013
Dear My Friends;
I have been selected as a finalist in the 2013 Archibald Prize exhibition by the Art Gallery of NSW with my portrait of Bille Brown.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, especially my wife, my friends and my family.
Of course the biggest thanks go to my dear friend Bille.
You were an angel my friend, you touched me and then changed my life ... Now You are gone but your soul still among us ... I will never forget you for the rest of my life. It was also great fun to meet with Ben Quilty , Abdul Abdullah,Nick Stathopoulos
Lots of Love
Mertim
Mertim Gokalp with Abdul Abdullah
Mertim Gokalp with Ben Quilty
I have been selected as a finalist in the 2013 Archibald Prize exhibition by the Art Gallery of NSW with my portrait of Bille Brown.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, especially my wife, my friends and my family.
Of course the biggest thanks go to my dear friend Bille.
You were an angel my friend, you touched me and then changed my life ... Now You are gone but your soul still among us ... I will never forget you for the rest of my life. It was also great fun to meet with Ben Quilty , Abdul Abdullah,Nick Stathopoulos
Mertim
Mertim Gokalp with Nick Stathopoulos
My new model Chae-ha and good bye to the Antique shop
My studio is next to an antique shop. Or at least it was until today. Sadly, I have learned today that this antique shop will no longer exists. It used to have a small coffee shop within it and I used to get my morning coffee here. This is how I met with Chae-ha, a beautiful barista from South Korea.
Kindly, Chae-he has agreed to pose for me for my new series of works and we had a few sittings already.
This is a preliminary drawing of her.
Kindly, Chae-he has agreed to pose for me for my new series of works and we had a few sittings already.
This is a preliminary drawing of her.
BIlle Brown, you will be deeply missed
It was a great pleasure to have known Bille Brown and I am honored to have had him as subjects of my recent paintings. He was a true gentleman with full of energy. I am so shocked and sad at his passing, he will be deeply missed.
After learning Bille’s interest in Sufi poetry, great knowledge of Ottoman history, and his mystic background, I felt that painting him in a Turkish Bath would be fantastic. I was amazed to learn that he studied Sufi Poetry and story telling in Turkey. He knew Haji Firouz, Mullah Nasreddin, Sohrab and Rustam. What else could I have asked!!! I was extremely excited with the idea of taking him to a Turkish Bath to paint. A well-known Australian Shakespearean actor in a Turkish bath!
It was an honour to have him agreed to pose for me. His trans-like state in the Turkish Bath reminded me of the Sufi Derwishes, hence I named the black and white portrait as Derwish.
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| Portrait of Bille Brown - Derwish (Oil Color Painting on Canvas) |
The coloured one on the other hand has a whole different energy. I believe this portrait reflects Bille’s soft nature and gentle heart. While using cold colours in the background of the Turkish Bath, I used warm colours in Bille’s portrait to create a symbolic contrast, signifying that the warmth of the Bath came from his inner energy, not from the Bath itself.
Portrait of Bille Brown in A Turkish Bath Oil Color Painting on Canvas, 2012
50 Faces of Balmain
50 Faces of Balmain was the last project of the year. It turned out to be a success. I have spent hours and hours painting 50 portraits. All the subjects were local fellows from Balmain.
I have been painting in my Balmain studio for the last three years and Balmain inspires me a lot. This is where I get my morning coffee, where I walk when I take a break to refresh myself under the sunlight! While wondering around here, I feel happy and free. I just thought that this project would be a great opportunity to meet with more Balmainians and to allow more people to know my works and I. Choosing people from Balmain as subjects of my paintings was kind of a payback. I thought I owed this to Balmain, as it gives me the energy and inspiration in my life.
I have been painting in my Balmain studio for the last three years and Balmain inspires me a lot. This is where I get my morning coffee, where I walk when I take a break to refresh myself under the sunlight! While wondering around here, I feel happy and free. I just thought that this project would be a great opportunity to meet with more Balmainians and to allow more people to know my works and I. Choosing people from Balmain as subjects of my paintings was kind of a payback. I thought I owed this to Balmain, as it gives me the energy and inspiration in my life.
Tap Project
This photo was only captured for the memory of the night... what happened that night after this shot is known by anyone but us!
Recently I have been thinking about focusing my paintings on underground city life in Sydney. As opposed to the focus on bourgeois society of the classical paintings, I am simply interested the ones that who grew up in the streets, the ones who gets drunk with a slice of bread, the ones who fight, the ones who piss the traffic off, the ones make love in the middle of the day, the ones who throw up on the street, the ones who wake up in middle of nowhere, the ones who scream, the ones who bite, the ones who fart, the ones who make peace and fuck, the ones who gets high, the ones who wont get scared when faced with a gun, the ones who use the gun, the ones who get the feeling of a cold steel bar...
no more Madonna painting with the baby Christ, it is now the time to paint the outcast lovechild of a prostitute..
we will meet soon for our own sacrifice!!!
Real Refuses - The Democratic Archibald 2012
After long hours of work, sweat and tears, finally I finished my Archibald painting. I am truely satisfied with the end result; but apparently the judges of the Archibald are not thinking the same way.. as my painting did not made into the Archibald 2012 this year.
I was deeply disappointed with the result.. and shut myself down for a few days... I did not want to talk to people, I did not want to give my comments on the Archibald finalist, yet alone the winner..
then, people started to ask about Real Refuses.. when is it?, are you going to be in the show this year too? As I was the winner of the last year's show, I was a bit reluctant to put my painting into Refuses this year.. but people kept asking and said they want to see the painting exhibited.. So I deceided to put my painting into the show again.. that was the last of the submission period...When I arrived at the gallery, I have to admit I was shocked by the quality and the number of the works on the wall. What a great difference from last year to this year.
Yet, I got the First Prize of the Real Refuses 2012.. Two years in a row.
After long hours of work, sweat and tears, finally I finished my Archibald painting. I am truely satisfied with the end result; but apparently the judges of the Archibald are not thinking the same way.. as my painting did not made into the Archibald 2012 this year.
I was deeply disappointed with the result.. and shut myself down for a few days... I did not want to talk to people, I did not want to give my comments on the Archibald finalist, yet alone the winner..
then, people started to ask about Real Refuses.. when is it?, are you going to be in the show this year too? As I was the winner of the last year's show, I was a bit reluctant to put my painting into Refuses this year.. but people kept asking and said they want to see the painting exhibited.. So I deceided to put my painting into the show again.. that was the last of the submission period...When I arrived at the gallery, I have to admit I was shocked by the quality and the number of the works on the wall. What a great difference from last year to this year.
Archibald Portrait Prize 2012 - Bille Brown in a Turkish Bath
I am entering a portrait of Bille Brown in a Turkish bath to participate in the upcoming Archibald Prize. I am hoping to surprise the viewers with our choice of composition as I have painted Bille in a way never seen before!
After learning that his interest in Sufi poetry, great knowledge of Ottoman history, and his mystic background, I felt that painting Bill in a Turkish Bath would be fantastic. I was amazed to learn that he studied Sufi Poetry and story telling in Turkey. He knew Haji Firouz, Mullah Nasreddin, Sohrab and Rustam. What else could i have asked!!! I was extremely excited with the idea of taking him to a Turkish Bath to paint. A well known Australian Shakespearean actor in a Turkish bath!
I was not sure if he would agree on this choice, but when Bille heard my idea, he was delighted with the thought of having a nice Turkish bath..
The next challenge was finding a Turkish Bath in Sydney, but luckily there happened to be one.
Of all the sittings, we have decided on this composition. I believe it reflects the gentle nature of my Great Bille with his delightful sense of humor.
Thank you Bille,
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