ALPER DEMIRCI, Turkey

I am a self-taught artist. Painting lets me dive into a world peopled with an infinite number of possible protagonists. Bringing them to life is much like watching a movie unfold before my eyes. Imagined Ottomans is a collection of such characters. All are born of my passion for, and are inspired by, the history and rich culture of the land of my birth. They become “real” by blending their imagined life stories with actual events and social contexts taken from six centuries of history. While a few are based on the lives of actual (and sometimes notorious) individuals, most of those portrayed only exist in my personal Ottoman World. It gives me such satisfaction when a viewer asks me, “Was that a real person? I don’t recall reading about them.” It means my art’s essential goal was accomplished.