At our 566th Art Gathering, we are visiting the studio of painter Yalçın Gökçebağ.
Painter Yalçın Gökçebağ, known as the "Painter of Anatolian Dreams," was born in 1944 in Zeyve (Akkent) village of Çal district in Denizli, the middle child of Tahir Öğretmen, a teacher, and Hayriye Hanım. After completing primary school in Çal, he entered Gönen Primary Teacher Training School (formerly known as Village Institute) in 1954, where he distinguished himself with his talent in painting and music. In 1957, he attended the Painting Seminar at Çapa Primary Teacher Training School; during this period, he received basic painting training from teachers such as Malik Aksel and İlhami Demirci. After graduating in 1961, he worked as a teacher for a year, then entered the Painting and Crafts Department of Gazi Education Institute in 1963, graduating in 1966. The artist, who began his professional life as a painting teacher at Akşehir Primary Teacher Training School, completed his military service as a reserve officer in Kütahya between 1968 and 1970. After returning from military service, he worked in various jobs in İzmir before joining TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) as a cameraman in 1971, a position he held for many years. Following his retirement, he worked as a lecturer in the Fine Arts Department at the Middle East Technical University (METU). His artistic approach depicts the pastoral rural life, nature, and human relationships of Anatolia in a simple, poetic, and sincere language.
For Gökçebağ, whose inspiration for his paintings comes from nature and the daily lives of Anatolian people, the "Beetroot Carts" and the horses pulling them that he saw from his window while teaching in Akşehir in 1965-66 were a significant turning point in his art. Currently continuing his artistic work in Istanbul, Yalçın Gökçebağ continues to leave his mark on Turkish painting with his unique style.
Wednesday, August 5th
12:00-13:00