29 Oct - 10 Nov 2023
I had the process of painting Atatürk Eyes No: 07 filmed as a visual contribution to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye
Mustafa Kemal, the leader of the Turkish troops was named the first President of Türkiye 29 October 1923 when the First Grand National Assembly declared Türkiye to be a republic officially in the new capital, Ankara, at the First Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Building.
https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/turkey/turkey-republic-day
In 1934, Kemal was given the title Atatürk, which means 'Father of the Turks'.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk passed away 9.05am 10 November 1938, hence this post acknowledges 29 Oct - 10 Nov.
Girl In The Red Dress 1938
NPP cat. no: 08464-09092014, 76cm x 102cm
At the time of planning my final Turkish painting, it was 2022 and in the UK we were coming to the end of the covid1984 lockdown. By my referring to covid1984, I am making it clear my view of the ‘pandemic’. I read Orwell’s ‘1984’ in 1984. When our then treacherous PM Boris Johnson, who ironically has Turkish family ties, announced the lockdown, I voiced caution to anyone who would listen; this was not about our health and well-being, but about digital identity, highly profitable pharmaceutical injections and ultimately climate change and Agenda 20230. The face mask and injection policy was rolled out in Türkiye as it was here, so I knew I would not be visiting Türkiye anytime soon.
I never wore a face mask, never engaged in a PCR test and had no intention of submitting to the covid1984 injection. I remain aghast that so many, whether here in the UK or there in Türkiye, acquiesced to the WHO, WEF and globalist ‘leaders’ who instructed the absurd ‘lockdown’ policy. There was no need to ‘lockdown’. The policy harmed people; not a supposed virus. Hence, in 2022, with 2023 looming, I had little enthusiasm to travel abroad, but wanted to do something to acknowledge 2023. Hence, I decided to paint the Eyes one final time and establish a website to mark the anniversary:
https://turkiye1923-2023.com/about/
I had long wanted to time-lapse film Atatürk’s Eyes being painted. Had I been in Türkiye, I would have employed Atıf Ülkü with whom I worked at Anıtkabir. Instead I searched and found a young filmmaker here in England who proved to be disappointing; he simply did not complete the task in the time I had expected. Atıf would film and share with me film footage rushes the same day. My new English filmmaker took months to show me any footage.
I dispensed with the first and employed a second young man, Oscar Burr, who edited the existing footage and filmed and added a little extra material. Thank you Oscar.
My Turkish ‘biz partner’ had zero enthusiasm for my little film project. He said 2022 was the wrong year to make such a film. I’ve dealt with discouragement before.
‘F—k off you British imperialist bastard. Go home and paint your own heroes.’
That was a hand written message left in my guest book for my Atatürk Smiles exhibition at The Marmara Taksim, November 1999. I’m not an imperialist nor a bastard and I don’t particularly have heroes.
The Marmara Taksim 10 Nov 1999
Some 20 years later I was informed, ‘You are carrying culture and history of our nation to UK and you do not know what you are doing.’
That was from a Turk 22.09.2019 with regard to displaying Vision Of Independence at a 31 October 2019 Halloween Trick or Treaty Brexit BBQ. What it is to be appreciated. I paint pictures, not carry other’s culture or history.
I was encouraged by my Turkish friend Nilay, a modest young lady who doesn’t like being named nor publicly acknowledged, and later Necati Yalçın, who I’ve never actually met, but was instrumental in capturing Turks saying ‘Turkey değil, şimdi Türkiye’. Thank you Necati.
I have 300 artworks still stored in Istanbul and one day plan to return for a final time to retrieve my property. This is on board TCG Gediz in Tokyo, Japan. This painting is now For Sale.
Atatürk’s Eyes No: 06 / VI
NPP cat. no: 08463-30082014, 100cm x 300cm, starting price: £100,000
This is for my private collection.
Atatürk’s Eyes No: 07 / VII
NPP cat. no: 08744-21062022, 100cm x 300cm, NOT For Sale
Previous:
https://turkiye2023.substack.com/p/diving-for-100-years