Page 9 - 한국-튀르키예 미술교류전 2023. 8. 22 - 8. 27 튀르키예 이스탄불 국립 문화관광부 예술청

축 사 Congratulatory Address

As long as the human race has known itself, it has never been without art. In the beginning, art did not have a name, but it has
continued its existence uninterruptedly until our time by taking different names in a very long process. As living conditions improve
and technological developments increase; Starting from prehistoric times, it has continued to change by taking on a thousand and
one shapes, a thousand colors and as many styles and has survived to the present day with the name of "art".

Art has almost always been fed from three basic sources: firstly, "nature", secondly, transformed nature, that is, "work of art", and
thirdly, the human being in artistic production, that is, the "artist". The lack of one of these three resources upsets the balance of
artistic production and makes its formation impossible.

The famous English thinker and statesman Francis Bacon defined art as “man added to nature”. Among a thousand and one
interpretations, this definition seems at first glance to be one of the most complete. When you think about it, it is realized that it
is not so, that it is the product of a one-dimensional generalization, that is, of an incomplete perspective. Because this definition
does not explain which feature of the human being in artistic production is added to nature. With his dreams, feelings, intuitions, or
with his rational side that emphasizes the thought dimension? Is it by using his hands with skill to make objects that are pleasing August 2023
to the eye, or by making design productions that only carry the functional to a dominant position? Or is it because it combines the
"beautiful" with the "functional"? The distinction between art and craft becomes clear at this fundamental point. So, what interests
us here should be to think about what or what the element or elements that have a determining characteristic in the distinction
between art and craft are. The answer or answers are the artist-individual who provides the design and production of the art object;
What tools he uses in the production process, what he uses while producing, in other words, what language he uses, which basic
human characteristics he emphasizes and how he expresses it should be sought. The individual who reveals the creative act called
art; magician, shaman, priest, craftsman, artist, etc. whatever we call it; What did he want to do, why, under what conditions, how
and for whom? The artistic production process is a language problem, what the plastic elements of this language consist of, how
a language can be created with these elements; In short, did he mention the basic problematics of the essence and form of art? If
not mentioned; He will necessarily have made an incomplete definition and an incomplete production in defining his craft and art in
particular, and human beings in general.

At this point, one of the primary questions to be answered is as follows: What kind of a way should be followed and what should be
done in order to create a language? It is a matter that should be known and accepted from the beginning that every branch of art
has its own language, no matter what field, and learning this language requires a certain educational process. Since the field we are
currently commenting on is art in general and painting in particular, it would be more accurate to give our example from this field.
First of all, it should not be forgotten that the art of painting, like music, can reveal an infinite number of different possibilities and
possibilities, from the simplest to the most complex, with a limited number of elements when used well and correctly. These are
created by humans based on designs based on nature, life, imaginary and intellectual productions; A limited number of abstract
elements such as point, line, texture, light-dark, tone, color, ratio-proportion, harmony, rhythm, movement are the founding basic
elements. Creating different creations, establishing new visual worlds with these plastic elements or elements requires creating a
special and subjective language, a style that prioritizes disposition. No matter how inclined the person is, no individual is born as
a great artist from his mother. In order to develop existing talent and become competent in a certain field, it is necessary to receive
training under the guidance of good teachers and to work hard with love and passion.

These points, which are important at the individual level in order to be able to produce artistically and be an artist, gain even greater
importance as they require a pluralistic perception and communication on the social level. We find this social function of art most
succinctly and strikingly in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's provocative view: "A nation without art means that one of the life veins of a
nation has been severed!".
Türkiye Curator / Painter / Prof. Aydin AYAN

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