Artist in conversation: Pinar Ture Gursoy
Pinar Ture Gursoy is a portrait and figurative painter and a photographer who was born in 1965 in Istanbul. She completed her higher education in Urban and Regional Planning in Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul.
Between 2010 and 2014, she got back to university and graduated from BA in Philosophy from Anadolu University with distinction. While studying philosophy, she was also living on and off in Paris and participating to workshops at the “Académie de la Grande Chaumière” in Paris.
During 2015-2018, in this time she lived on and off in London. In this period she graduated from MSc in Museum Management from “Istanbul University”.
She has been many Group and solo exhibiting and auctions in various Turkish cities and also abroad in Tokyo, Lucern, Deventer, Venice, Tiran, Napoli, Marakkesh, Thessaloniki, London, Fuerteventura, Milan, Pennsylvania etc...
Some of her works are included in the collection of Museum of Tolentino in Italy for Biennial BIUMOR(new), TEV(Turkish Education Foundation) and Portart by Hakan Körpi/ UPSD etc.
She was shortlisted among thousands of international competitors and works at the UK VAO Visual Art Open 2021 Art Awards, where she participated with a single work.
NNC (No Name Collective Art Gallery) Collective 2021 challenge contest she participated in was chosen by the curators for the 1st level. And with her works, she was among the October selections in the November issue of the NNC Art gallery's Art Magazine.
Pinar Ture Gursoy’s two artworks were selected for “Blue Competition and Exhibition” at Colors of Humanity Art Gallery in the USA at December 01-31, 2021
Currently she continues her artworks home atelier in Istanbul, Turkey.
Website https://pinargursoy.com/
- Welcome to The Holy Art. Could you tell us a little more about your background, and how did you begin creating art?
Thank you very much! Of course I could tell you with pleasure.
Actually, the most important activity for me since I was 2-3 years old was drawing and painting. My father (of Persian origin) was an architect master’s degree who made great model houses and drew projects. He was also a photographer. That's why painting was an encouraged aspect in our home. A wall in our studio kitchen was allocated to us (we were 2 sisters), just as they painted on cave walls in the primitive ages of humanity. We would paint there, it would be whitewashed again, and then we would paint again. My most important game items were my crayons and papers. Actually, I was very lucky in this respect because pictorial art has been an action for me that I have never stopped doing in my life. During my university years, Sadi Faik Izer, son of Zeki Faik Izer, one of the famous Turkish painter Group D artists, was my art history teacher. I would show him my pictures and get his comments.
I got married in 1989 and had two daughters in 1991 and 1993.
In 1998, I took lessons from Prof Tayfun Erdogmus and his team at Marmara University “Evening Art Workshops”.
The year 2010 was an important date in my life when many things were pressed and quick starts were made for me.
I attended the drawing, painting and art history workshops of Painter Hülya Duzenli at “İstasyon Art Academy” in Istanbul
I went back to the university and studied philosophy.
I started living hop on hop off in Paris between 2010-2014. I attended workshops as a guest student at the Académie de la Grande ChaumièreAs of 2011, Painter Mahir Güven Workshops Painter Orhan Taylan Workshops as of 2012.
In 2013, I attended Painter and Engraver Seçil Büyükkan Atmaca's Linol Engraving Workshop.
I attended the Photographer İzzet Keribar workshop in 2013
Between 2014-2017, I graduated from Istanbul University Museum Management Master's Degree, and life between City of London at London and Istanbul began on these dates.
and 2017 was a new milestone for me, this time in terms of Exhibitions. I have been many Group and Solo exhibiting and auctions in various Turkish cities and also abroad in Tokyo, Lucern, Deventer, Venice, Tiran, Napoli, Marakkesh, Zurich, Thessaloniki, London, Fuerteventura, Milan, Pennsylvania etc...
And currently I continue my artworks home atelier in Istanbul, Turkey.
- What art do you most identify with?
I think, I identify myself most with painting, photography and architecture among the visual arts.
- Can you describe one artwork or series from your oeuvre that you feel was pivotal in your career?
Among my works is the God&Goddess Series, which I follow a different working method. I worked as an oil painting on 80x80 cm plywood. And then I coated with Epoxy to give them a liquid glass look. This was a different and experimental work with a lot of mythological elements.
- Which other great artists inspire you and why?
Actually, I have to answer this question from two angles. One hand, the almost family tradition of architecture and my first university degree in urban planning; that’s why famous designer architects inspired me, especially Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, Hungarian Marcel Breuer, etc. I created many seating elements are frequently seen in my paintings with this inspiration.
On the other hand dominant character of the art world who especially the figure works of Pablo Picasso’s blue period, the pioneer and genius Spanish artist who adapted to all times. Czech painter Frantiśek Kupka, the French painter Balthus (Balthazar), the Irish painter Francis Bacon, the Austrian painter Egon Schiele and of course the English painter Lucian Freud. All these painters were a touchstone and a guide for me to find and reveal the souls of women in my past and their dark places.
- Can you talk about the process of creating your work?
Of course I can, the dominant element in my works as a theme is the female body. I focused on giving almost everything, emotions, fear, joy, through this material. When the idea has matured and is clear in my mind and can be illustrated, I first decide whether it will be on wood, canvas, paper etc. Then I decide on the paint material (acrylic, oil paint, charcoal etc.) and then the colors and the palette. I establish the relationship between the medium and the pallet. Sometimes I paint on one canvas, sometimes on several canvases at the same time.
- What advice would you give to emerging artists entering the art world?
First of all, it will be a classic discourse but I would like to say that; Nothing is impossible!
Patience and perseverance are two elements that a talented person can hold onto and that will somehow save their life from drama. Talent, imagination, curiosity, and knowing the history of art, especially in the beginning, where the life and works of the masters are told, are very important. By nurturing his own characteristics and qualifications, he will be distinguished from other artists and will be noticeable.
So it will naturally create its own trace.
- What do you hope that the public takes away from your art?
The first thing I hope for is that they are deeply touched and shaken, from the heart. Because on this planet, women, children and people who are considered weak have problems, pain and sorrow. Making this feel through painting, inviting people to be sensitive is what I actually want to do.
- What is your dream project?
My dream project is to plan an exhibition about women's rights and their life purpose. Because right now my country has left the Istanbul Convention with a wrong decision. And this situation makes women who are already insecure in these lands even more vulnerable, fragile and close to death.
- Finally, are there any projects you are currently working on and able to speak about?
Yes, some memories of my childhood that I'm working on intellectually right now. I plan to draw these in a series!