I have been many times to Turkey, and every time I come back, I discover something new. It is a well known fact that this country is rich in history, archaeological findings, artifacts, classic and contemporary art. However, nowadays I see a lot of changes, and it looks like Turkey has become a new destination for the international art market. I decided to satisfy my curiosity in a professional way. And it is my honor today to interview Semra Sancak – art professional, owner of the Fırça Art Gallery, journalist at the Ankara Life magazine, activist of Soroptimist International and, which is non the less important, a loving mother .
D.A.Stauer: Semra, you are a woman to admire. You have been interviewed by Turkish TV Programs (Fox Turk TV, Business Channel internet TV, Kanal B) and now I have a pleasure to invite you to share your vision with the English speaking audience of an Italian publication Artslife.
Indeed, I know that you are a very cosmopolitan person who speak very good English. Where did you study? What made you decide to dedicate your life to art? Could you give us a brief outline of your biography?
Semra Sancak: At first, I would like introduce myself and my dear Fırça Art Gallery. I graduated from the Ankara University, The Faculty of Political Sciences. My greatest dream was to live in the art world for the rest of my life, already when I was a manager at Vakifbank.
I used to create paintings at an art studio during my weekends. I was visiting art galleries, starting to acquire the artworks for my own art collection. Having retired from Vakifbank in 2003, I was willing to change my path, as I got kind of exhausted of finding myself in the banking environment.
I thought I would have preferred to live among the artists and so I made my hobby become my new profession by taking over Fırça (Brush) Art Facility (or Home if you use literal translation) from its owners.
D.A.Stauer: Semra, could you tell us about the new art trends in Turkish Art Life from the point of view of the professional in this field?
Semra Sancak: In the past, art had a rising value in my country. Art gallery owners became rich due to the art expositions and the other ways of selling artworks.
Unfortunately, in the last few years social, political and economic equilibriums have changed. Some factors as welfare level, preferences and alternative investment instruments inhibit that interest on artworks fell into a rising trend.
As in many developing countries, we also have some problems of artworks as an investment instrument, which is a marker of a healthy art market.
All of these mechanisms must work in a professional and institutive way for a rising art market.
D.A.Stauer: Semra, I know that you are a journalist, what is the subject you are writing on?
Semra Sancak: Yes, it is true, I am an art journalist. I have been interviewing famous artists for “Ankara Life Magazine” every month for 8 years. Sometimes I make a contribution to the introduction of a young talent in my section.
On the other hand, I like to travel to exotic culture and art centers of the world, and write my travel notes for some magazines. My Italy (Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, Siena) traveling notes were issued in Ankara Life Magazine for four months, in Ankara Cultur Art Activities Bulletin during three mounts as serial. I love Italy. My daughter and close friend Ekin is in Rome now getting her education on architecture.
D.A.Stauer: Semra, I know that you are part of the Soroptimist International, a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls. Could you please tell us about your recent achievements in this field?
Semra Sancak: Yes, I am a board member of The International Soroptimist Clubs Confederation Gaziosmanpaşa Club. One of the most meaningful factors of my life is that we work for women and girls’ better future.
We draw attention to their problems and the solutions We do some social projects and activities for their education, training, raise awareness, encourage etc…
As we all know, the women create a society including male, female, child – as a mother. The more happy, healthy, strong, intelligent, informed and “crowned” with reputation is a woman, the more “ideal” generation she will bring up.
I think women are like Olympians, because of their fertility. Unfortunately, they have not taken a place in the society, as they deserve, throughout the human history. That’s why we must always help them all over the world. Support at home, support worldwide.
D.A.Stauer: That is a very interesting interview indeed. Thank you so much for sharing it with me and the readers of Artslife.
I do not like to say good bye, as I would like to keep our friendship growing. And I would be happy to see the second part of the interview published next month.
Semra Sancak: I agree with you on that and I am so happy to be a guest of the Artslife, because, to my opinion, the artist is a special “version” of a human and the dynamics of art make us, humans, young and spryly. And, thanks God, I live in all these environment always being vivacious and amative…
Dear Semra; Congratulations.. I’m honored and happy so much.. and wish continued success.