{"id":258305,"date":"2025-11-03T07:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T07:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/258305\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T07:00:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T07:00:31","slug":"artist-yuksel-akman-chronicles-ataturks-life-in-istanbul-exhibit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/258305\/","title":{"rendered":"Artist Y\u00fcksel Akman chronicles Atat\u00fcrk\u2019s life in Istanbul exhibit"},"content":{"rendered":"

The exhibition \u201cMustafa\u202fKemal\u202fAtat\u00fcrk: The Sun Rising from Thessaloniki,\u201d created by painter and illustrator Y\u00fcksel Akman, has opened at the TGC Press Media Museum in Istanbul. It invites art lovers to explore the life of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s founding leader through art.<\/p>\n

Organized in honor of the 102nd anniversary of the republic, the exhibition features charcoal drawings depicting key moments from Atat\u00fcrk\u2019s life \u2013 from his birth in Thessaloniki to his passing, including scenes from the Italo-Turkish War, the Gallipoli Campaign and the War of Independence. The exhibition will remain open to visitors until Nov. 14.<\/p>\n

Depicting Atat\u00fcrk\u2019s life <\/p>\n

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Y\u00fcksel Akman explained that the exhibition includes nearly 120 works, each portraying a different phase of Atat\u00fcrk\u2019s life.<\/p>\n


\n \"Artist
\n <\/a>
\n Artist Y\u00fcksel Akman poses with his charcoal drawings on display at the TGC Press Media Museum, Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, Oct. 30, 2025. (AA Photo) <\/p>\n

\u201cI illustrated Atat\u00fcrk from his home in Thessaloniki to his final days,\u201d Akman said, noting that each drawing is accompanied by detailed captions providing historical context. This allows visitors to engage with both the artistic and historical dimensions of the exhibition.<\/p>\n

Akman initially conceived the project as a book. \u201cI\u2019ve been writing and illustrating children\u2019s books for many years,\u201d he explained. \u201cI prepared a book about Atat\u00fcrk for primary and middle school students, decorated with my drawings. Then I thought of expanding it. I created about 120 illustrations and decided to hold an exhibition that would coincide with both Republic Day and Atat\u00fcrk Memorial Day (Nov. 10).\u201d<\/p>\n

Unique artistic technique<\/p>\n

The artist shared that each piece in the exhibition was based on archival photographs and completed over a two-month period. He also plans to publish “Mustafa\u202fKemal\u202fAtat\u00fcrk: The Sun Rising from Thessaloniki” as an album book in the future.<\/p>\n

Unlike his usual style, Akman employed a scribble technique for this series. To create authentic depictions, he conducted extensive archival research to find reference materials.<\/p>\n


\n \"A
\n <\/a>
\n A visitor views the charcoal drawings at the TGC Press Media Museum, Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, Oct. 30, 2025. (AA Photo) <\/p>\n

He also revealed plans for a new exhibition next year dedicated to the heroes of Turkic states. Having illustrated or written nearly 4,000 children\u2019s books since 1975, Akman is one of the most prolific figures in Turkish children\u2019s literature.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween 1975 and 1980, I began my art career with comic books,\u201d Akman recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter 1984, I worked for several years at Terc\u00fcman newspaper. Later, I opened my own studio in Ca\u011falo\u011flu. There, I wrote and illustrated various children\u2019s books, including textbooks, stories, fairy tales and coloring books.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2014, Akman adapted the lives of Ottoman sultans into a 36-volume comic series. His most recent publication, “Glorious Turkic States: From the Hun Empire to the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye,” released last year, presents the history of 16 Turkic states in a comic-style format.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n


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