Bozlu Art Publications presents its very first illustrated children’s book, The Tale of a Painter (Ressam Masalı), to readers with a launch event to take place at the Bozlu Art Project Mongeri Building on the evening of December 17th. This book takes off from questions such as “What would an art history book for children on the painters of our country look like? What would it contain? How would we explain the concepts of ‘art’ and ‘artist’ to kids?”. Prepared by Can Göknil, who has enriched our artistic landscape for the past 50 years by illustrating children’s books and creating stories steeped in our own authentic culture in addition to her identity as a painter, the book is a work of rare importance in terms of our art history for its presentation of art to children with an artist’s sensibility. Poised to fill an important gap with regards to children’s books in Turkey with its original text, written by Can Göknil in the form of a nursery rhyme, and rich visual character reflecting a painterly view of our art history, The Tale of a Painter contains original paintings which shall be on display for art viewers’ appreciation in the exhibition to take place simultaneously with the book launch. Visitors of the exhibit that shall last from December 17th 2019 to February 22st 2020 will also be able to enjoy the sound and video installation prepared by Murat and Esma Ertel in collaboration based on the book.
Having left behind fifty years in art as a painter, writer and illustrator of children’s books, Can Göknil is embarking on a first in her artistic journey with her book titled The Tale of a Painter (Ressam Masalı) that draws on all of her accumulated experience. With reference to nursery rhymes, which hold an important place in our oral tradition, Göknil’s hero sets out on an adventuresome journey through our art history with the following words pondering which occupation to choose:
I couldn’t dare harm a carp if I were a fisherman
Shoot a crane if I were a hunter
What about a bath maker? One that were a basin breaker!
How, then, about becoming a painter?
This journey unfolding with our music-and-painting-loving hero’s intriguing encounters with masters of painting, leads all the way to pioneers ranging from Osman Hamdi Bey to Şeker Ahmet Pasha, from Fikret Mualla to İbrahim Çallı.
This project formulated with art historians Dr. Özlem İnay Erten and Oğuz Erten’s opinions on the lack of children’s books in Turkey’s art history came to life under their supervision. Prior to writing and illustrating the book Can Göknil went to schools to meet with children and ask for their thoughts on the paintings to take place in it. Certain to leave an imprint on minds with its illustrations as well as original content, the book has been prepared by Bozlu Art Publications in order to present our painters to children from the perspective of a master painter and instil in them a love for art.
In the exhibit to be held in the Bozlu Art Project Mongeri Building from December 17th 2019 to February 22st 2020, the original paintings featured in The Tale of a Painter, that attracts attention with its illustrations as much as with its story, shall also meet with audiences. While seeing this exhibit, viewers will also be able to enjoy the sound and video installation prepared by Esma Ertel and Murat Ertel based on the book.