1. Gizem Saka
Contemporary Turkish Painter
Art makes me free.

2. Background Information
Gizem was born in 1978 in Istanbul, Turkey.
She is a self taught painter, who began with charcoal drawings and sculpture.
Between 1995 1999 she worked in artists studios before moving to New York in 1999, where she is currently living and painting.
3. Artist Statement
My art is about experimenting with shapes and colours. I see arts as an expression of feelingsbut more importantly as a domain for freedom. Painting has given me the flexibility to expand in all directions: expanding along the surface of the canvas vertically and horizontally and then going deep into the painting, which completes the idea of space and movement in that space. Its vast. www.artquotes.net/artists/saka
4. Gizem uses a lot of colour in her works, which emphasis the distorted shapes that she creates. The distorted shapes are a natural consequence of using the same canvas consistently. When she is unsatisfied with her work she turn the painting upside down and tries to super impose another image.
As we go through her paintings, see if you can recognise which paintings she may have done this with.
5. Major Influences
Matisses Green Stripe (Madame Matisse)
SakasSimple Thoughts
Henri Matisse's work has a strong influence in Sakas, who created works full of warmth and for personal contentment.
Didactic works do not appeal to Saka.
Saka believes artworks should tell a story, making the viewer aware of how other people feel, how they live and how they love.
6. Matisses Woman
Matisses influence:
Saka took one of Henri Matisse's sketches he made on the corner of one of his books, and gave the woman a different face. She also altered the original by adding colour.
How do you think colourand shape have been used to enhance features in Matisses Woman?
7. Istanbul Houses
The paintingIstanbul Houses is greatlyinfluenced by Gizems cultural background, growing up in Istanbul.
Sakahas a strong desire to paint different aspects of the Turkish culture andof places in Istanbul.
8. Istanbul through Sakas EyesThe two different sides
Blue Sky
Crowded City
9. The Woman Collection
This collection of paintings are inspired byeveryday activities.If it is raining, Gizem will paint a woman with an umbrella. When she is not in the mood to do anything, she may paint a woman sitting and thinking.
10. What emotions do you feel from these paintings?
Tired? Relaxation? Sleepy?
11. Functional Art
Owls on a Tree
Nap Time
The clock is a progression from the tree.
Nap time actually shows the time through a scene.
12. Sailing Ships Collection
Inspired by 17th Century Ottoman Iznik Tiles
13. Colour, Line and Shape
Take a close look at Fisherman at Night.
How have each of the above elements been used to create this effective oil painting?
14. Livestrong
Saka painted Livestrong to donate to the Lance Armstrong foundation.
The painting got auctioned at their annual fundraising gala in May 2006.
What elements can you recognise in this painting?
15. Bird Collection
When you look at these art works, what shape do you thinks stands out in each picture?
16. Three Faces of September
This painting is not like most of Sakas works. I think that it has a great amount of warmth.
Do you agree?
17. Everything else is restrictive and imprisoning, while painting is like nice clean air so that you can breathe freely.Gizem Saka
18. References
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/matisse/green-stripe/
http://istanbulgallery.bluearcher.com/default.asp
http://www.artquotes.net/artists/saka/artist-interview.htm
http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk/0607/gizem_saka.htm