I am pleased to announce that my painting of Simon Burke has been short listed for the second round for the BP Award. It's on its way to National Portrait Gallery, London......Simon Burke , National Portrait Gallery

Project[504] Opening party , mertim gokalp

St Leonards art scene will come alive as Project [504] launches.

Project [504] is an experimental, co-operative art initiative in the heart of St Leonards showcasing an eclectic mix of well-known and emerging Australian artists; including regular finalists in the Archibald Prize, the Doug Moran and the Sulman Prize. 

Sponsored by Charter Hall, one of Australia’s leading property groups which manages $12.1 billion of quality office, industrial and retail assets, Project [504] has been established to provide an outlet for artist’s to showcase their work outside the mainstream gallery scene. It also offers artists a supportive creative working environment, enabling collaboration across genres and mediums and fuelling innovation and creativity.

The space at 504 Pacific Highway is currently showing the works of a number of artists and will host art classes, workshops, events, exhibitions and creative projects over the coming months. Resident Project [504] artists and directors are now accepting proposals for use of the space, and have received overwhelming interest to date.

Natalie Devlin, Charter Hall’s Head of People, Brand and Community said the Group was proud to be partnering with the local North Sydney community to offer Project [504] space at its Pacific Highway office building.

“Public interest initiatives, such as Project [504], can have such a positive social impact, creating stronger engagement within mixed use areas and bringing communities to life. 

“Project [504] has taken an under utilised space at 504 Pacific Highway and brought together different parts of the community to create a more interesting and engaging environment.

“Charter Hall is excited to be part of this innovative space; it’s great to see the local community supporting Project [504] and to see the first art works hanging in the gallery for everyone to enjoy,” Ms Devlin added.

Kathrin Longhurst, a Director of Project [504] has been inundated with local support and is working with a number of artists to provide an opportunity that will help them create and showcase their work in a beautiful setting. 

“We have enjoyed incredible support so far, both from our corporate sponsor Charter Hall, Lane Cove Council and other businesses in the area who have been donating furniture, equipment, supplies and their services. It’s been so much fun meeting new people and seeing the response to what we are creating in the space.

“There are many artists out there who are very excited to be part of Project [504]. We chose the name Project [504] to indicate that this space is evolving organically and is quite experimental. We don’t know where it will lead and that is part of the fun with it. It can become anything that the artists and community want it to be. One thing is for sure – it won’t be boring,” Ms Longhurst said.

Project [504], located at 504 Pacific Highway, St Leonards will launch with a mixed art exhibition on 20 February 2015 from 6pm. Project [504] is open to the public between 1pm and 6pm weekdays. For more information about the exhibition or to enquire about using the space please contact Kathrin Longhurst on 04111 44 893 or check out the website www.project504.com.au.

Contemporary Istanbul 2014

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.

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!!!!

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.

Girl with skull - Mertim Gokalp

I need warmth - Mertim Gokalp

Red Balloon - Mertim Gokalp

Separation - Mertim Gokalp

Scratch - Mertim Gokalp

Occupy - Mertim Gokalp

Out of blue  - Mertim Gokalp

Red Carnation - Mertim Gokalp

Transient (Blue Version) - Mertim Gokalp

Wine & Spaghetti - Mertim Gokalp

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.

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

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

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.

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. 

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.