Usually people have a stereotype of the art gallerist: always opening champagne and inviting journalists and collectors to the openings of the new exhibitions, talking about art and wearing stylish clothes. Then selling the artworks and going to the art events in different parts of the world. Is it really so?
Today I have decided to ask a few questions to a “Lady of Enlightenment”, that is pushing forward art, culture, social, education, and anti-violence initiatives. You have already met her last month in the article “Turkey: New Art Destination“, and I am pleased to have a second interview with this amazing “wizard of art and women protection”, Mrs. Semra Sancak from Ankara, Turkey.
D.A.Stauer: Dear Semra, it is a pleasure to have you as Artslife English News guest again. Last time we discussed the new trends in Turkish art market, and today I would be more interested in the kind of job you are doing personally.
It is not a secret that many Europeans have stereotypes about Turkey as a country with Islamic culture, they still think about harems and Osman Empire architecture and lifestyle… So, for many people it is a surprise that a lady like you could be an art gallerist, travel and take an active role in the society. What is difficult in being an owner of an art gallery in Ankara, is it a difficult job?
Semra Sancak: Well, it is always a pleasure to open a new art exhibition, but there is a lot of work behind the curtains.
For example, as a gallery, we have been intermediating over 300 artists, including their personal and collective expositions, art activities, art fairs that we are organizing all over the world.
Nowadays we are getting ready for two traditional art fairs in Ankara in December 2015 and March 2016, 1st – Art Ankara Contemporary Art Fair and 2d – Tüsgad Ankara Art Meeting.
I am also Auditor of Tüsgad (All Art Galleries Club). We are working on the problematic issues and trying to find the solutions for the art market. Also we organize some art activities and art fairs for our artists all over the world, and research some legal issues on the art market.
D.A.Stauer: So, metaphorically speaking, the “Brush Art home” is where you are growing a community of artist, like the strokes of a brush?
Semra Sancak: Yes, that is a good comparison.
Fırça Art Facility has two sections: 1st – Art Studio where the students and teachers work, 2d – Art Gallery where there are artists’ expositions.
Fırça’s slogan is ”The place where art get together with love and friendship”. Our task is described by this slogan. I like working with the artists and students whose philosophy of life is similar to mine. We also must have an affection with them. Actually, we are a big family in the art life.
In the art studio, all together we are trying to improve, step by step, without compromising the universal criteria of art…
D.A.Stauer: I wonder what are your criteria in selecting the artists? Should it be an already well established artist, or it could be a young unknown artist, whose artworks you just liked?
Semra Sancak: As an art gallery, not only we bring together the well-established artists and art-lovers, but we also introduce “rising-stars” artists and the talented young artists to the art-lovers. This is an artistic responsibility for us.
D.A.Stauer: What are the expectations of the art lovers and collectors entering your art gallery in Ankara?
Semra Sancak: As an art gallerist my goal is to provide “fresh blood” to the art market, whilst having to encourage the old art lovers for their new investments and create a new niche of collectors among my friends and the other social connections. Also I put a lot of efforts into the contribution to art by all the activities that I am doing. I believe that I have succeeded quite a lot…
D.A.Stauer: November is usually a month of multiple international events. Last year I had my first personal art exposition “Ladies of the World”, which was first of all a proclamation against Violence against women. I am not the only one who is talking about this problem, of course.
In Milano there is a wall in the city centre where famous designers started to put hand made dolls – to raise awareness to the violence problem. Now anybody can put their own doll to add his or her voice in this peaceful but very visual way. There are a lot of dolls that people make themselves and put on the wall. It is quite impressive, as you drive by.
Are anti -Violence initiatives taking place also in Turkey? If yes, could you tell us about them?
Semra Sancak: Of course… There are many anti-Violence initiatives by some universities, institutions, foundations in Turkey. For example, conferences, special films, concerts, art shows, expositions. We put white ribbons to our and our husband’s and the men’s in the streets necks.
We put on some special hats of the same colour. We send some comic and ciphered e-mails to everybody, etc.
Fırça Art Gallery also assumed a special exposition for raising awareness to the violence problem in November. We will welcome a special artist and and her exposition which concept is against violence, I am excited to honour: Diana Avgusta Stauer and her exposition “Ladies of the World Against Violence” in 06-26 November 2015. My Soroptimist Club is supporting this exposition, and we have planned some activities during the exposition as a social responsibility project.
And of course, it is our pleasure to invite you to follow Fırça Art Gallery on their website and other media channels.
D.A.Stauer: Thank you so much, and yes, I am very honored to have this opportunity and to have received the Soroptimist Club Award, which is very important for me. And yes, see you at the art exposition “Ladies of the World Against Violence”!
