ARTISTS

AZIZ MURAT ASLAN (GUEST CURATOR)

Born in 1980, Guest Curator Aslan acknowledges Turkish Karagöz figure master Metin Ozlen, a UNESCO Living Treasure, as his first teacher, connecting him to the classic Karagöz puppet figure tradition. He was initially exposed to more contemporary techniques in the atelier of his father, painter Memis Aslan. Traces of Dr. Murat Huten’s art can also be seen in Aslan’s work. Aslan credits Cengiz Ozek with providing him with a contemporary professionalism and vision through their many collaborations in the International Istanbul Puppet Festival and “Karagöz, My Dear” Istanbul exhibition.

MEMIS ASLAN

Memis Aslan’s paintings, sculptures, masks, monuments, copper reliefs, mosaics, and leaded glassworks can be found in many private and institutional collections. Born in 1949, Aslan received a Master of Arts degree from the Istanbul Fine Arts Academy. As part of his training, he worked in the ateliers of many renowned Turkish artists including Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu, Devrim Erbil, Resat Atalik, Gungor Taner, Sabri Berkel, and Kemal Bilensoy. He has participated in more than 20 solo and group exhibitions in Turkey and internationally. 

DR. MURAT HUTEN

Though trained as a psychiatrist, having graduated from the Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Karagöz has been Murat Huten’s passion since the age of 12. Born in 1966, Huten became an accomplished Karagöz figure maker through the tutelage of famous masters like Ali Kiyak, Ragip Tugtekin and Orhan Kurt. He also possesses the world’s largest and most diverse collections of Karagöz figures, representing a wide spectrum of both time periods and artists. An active scholar in the field of Karagöz, Huten also played an important role in teaching Guest Curator Aslan the art of Karagöz figure making.

CENGIZ OZEK

Cengiz Ozek has brought Karagöz to audiences around the world with his contemporary Karagöz plays “Magic Tree,” “Garbage Monster,” and “Magic Lamp.” Born in 1964, Ozek learned Karagöz figure making from master Ali Kiyak. Art Director of the International Istanbul Puppet Festival, he also founded the Istanbul Karagöz Puppet Foundation, which blends Karagöz art with body shadow, mask, and video techniques. Most recently, he curated “Karagöz, My Dear,” an exhibition tracing the history of Karagöz theater and its global connections, at Istanbul’s Yapi Kredi Culture & Art Center.

SERKAN OZTURK

Serkan Ozturk’s Karagoz paintings reflect his far-ranging artistic life, including playwriting, acting in TV series and commercials, and caricature. Born in 1976, Ozturk holds a degree in Painting from Gazi University, and a Masters Degree in Acting from Halic University, Ozturk became intensely involved with Karagöz art in 2013. A great admirer of both the classic Karagöz figures of Metin Ozlen (a UNESCO Living Human Treasure), and Cengiz Ozek’s contemporary performance style, Ozturk’s Karagöz work—like Guest Curator Aslan’s—reflects a holistic approach.