AZIZ MURAT ASLAN, TURKEY
The figure of Karagöz immediately intrigued me when I first encountered him in European museums while pursuing my Engineering PhD in Germany. Karagöz —as a character, theatrical practice, and international cultural treasure—quickly became a lifelong passion. An important feature of Ottoman palace and public life from the 16th to 20th centuries, Karagöz was mentioned in the chronicles of many 18th- and 19th-century visitors to Istanbul. Following the 1923 establishment of the Turkish Republic, its themes continued to inspire famous Turkish artists like Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu. German stop-motion animation artist Lotte Reiniger even claims it inspired her work, which in turn inspired Walt Disney. Representing a cross-cultural intersection of traditional and contemporary visual, musical, literary, and performing arts, Karagöz’s legacy is a rich source of material for both research and entertainment.
I’m holding Lokman Hekim-The Healer, one of the characters I’m creating for “Seven Deadly Sins,” my upcoming Karagöz play. According to legend, God granted this Ethiopian slave long life and healing talents. The details of this figure reflects his attributes: 7 eagles and the elixir of life on his belt (long life), and the staff of Asclepius (Greek god of medicine).
A late 19th-century Ottoman audience enjoys a Karagöz shadow puppet performance. “Shadow,” however, is a misnomer as the colorful puppets are always visible through the translucent white curtain. Karagöz plays were accompanied by music, singing, and poetry, and continue to be performed today. (Untitled, Ressam Muazzez Özduygu (1871-1956), Bozlu Art Project Archive)