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Burhan Dogancay: â€œNo one will know us if we do not promote our art and literature in the worldâ€- PHOTO

Burhan Dogancay: â€œNo one will know us if we do not promote our art and literature in the worldâ€- <font color=red>PHOTO</font>

07 December 2009 15:19 (UTC +04:00)

Istanbul. Mayis Alizadeh â€“ APA. APAâ€™s Turkey bureau interviews painter Burhan Dogancay whose â€œMavi Senfoniâ€ (Blue Symphony) was bought by Murat Ulker, owner of the Ulker Group of companies, for $1.5 million

-Sale of your painting at the high price has gone down in history in the Turkish art of painting. How does the painter whose painting has been sold for $1.5 million while he is alive feel?

-It was a turning point. We needed it â€“ because the train was leaving and we could be late for the last coach. Viewing the prices of the world paintings we saw that Turkey was lagging behind. Even in the Middle East the works by Iranian, Egyptian painters were sold at much higher price, needless to say the price of the Chinese painters. There was a need for this sale in order to pave the way for young Turkish painters. Of course this sale did not depend on me - â€œMavi Senfoniâ€ was sold at the auction for $1.5 million. It is good that Turkey was not late in this.

-On October 11, while speaking to Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay I asked why the ministry did not buy several expensive paintings in order to increase the prices of paintings and mentioned you. China used this method to increase the prices of its paintersâ€™ works in the world market.

-I was a civil servant. You know that I graduated from the faculty of law. I defended a thesis in law in Paris. I am aware of the state affairs. In stead of buying the painters works the state should create conditions to help the citizens to buy paintings â€“ deepen the free market economy, pay high scholarship to the students of art faculties and establish museums. The development of art in a country is connected with the strong private sector. For the development of art the minister should â€“ for example, construct good road to my museum, lighten the street etc. I face difficulties when I go to appropriate bodies in connection with this.

-Up to now we have seen the first generation of the Turkish bourgeoisie inside the art business â€“ Sabanci, Eczacibasi, Koc, Kirac etc. Now we have witnessed that Ulker group known with its conservative outlook paid high price for your painting. Isnâ€™t it pleasant from the aspect of Turkish art?

- This step was very important. I always look at the world from a large window. My father also was an artist. While being a child, I always told my father that my works will be exhibited at the famous museums of the world and sold at the higher prices. There was no even gallery in Ankara in 1962, but today my works are exhibited at the museums of 64 countries. It is necessary to popularize Turkish and Azerbaijani artists, because if you are not playing in the premier league no one will know what a good player you are. I have an art studio in New York for 45 years and I traveled to 114 countries.

- Germanyâ€™s chocolate emperor Peter Ludwig collected famous examples of the 20th century art in his museum in Cologne. Did the Ulker Group, who bought your work at higher price, open a door to the premier league of the world of art?

- Ulker Group made its contribution to lead the world of Turkish art to the premier league. I meant it when I spoke about the private sectorâ€™s interest to the artistic world. Large companies and leading businessmen of the world play a role of locomotive in purchasing of art world and it should be so in Turkey as well. The businessmen should stay in the history not for their wealth, but for the investments they make in the field of art. For example, Medici clan in Italy in XV-XVI centuries is known today for their patronage over the art. Morgan or Rockefeller in America also did that. The wealthy people can lose their money, but the investment they put in the art enables them to stay in the history.

- We see you in your photos published in America and USSR in the working atmosphere. One of the Nobel winners-writers said it needs to have 99 % talent, 99 % hard working and 99 % discipline to be William Faulkner. Is this formula suitable to be Burhan Doganchay?

- It needs to work 100 % hardly. Then there are something given by God. I am working for 10 hours a day. Many people think that I am sleeping in my house in the South. But last year I painted 20 large works and this year 20 too. I recommend the young people to work hardly and to be optimist. The young people can wait patiently. I waited for 55 years to reach this point. If there was no Iraqi war, the world wouldnâ€™t know the location of Turkey. If there was no oil, they wouldnâ€™t know where is Azerbaijan? I stayed in Baku for 15 days and took series of photos. Your country became very beautiful. It is gratifying that Nobelsâ€™ architecture was protected in Baku. I visited studios of some artists. I was amazed at piano sounds from every house in Baku. No one will know us if we do not promote our art and literature in the world. How many people knew Columbia until Gabriel Garcia Marquez? Do the people know Argentine for its president or Borches? Everybody started to learn Egypt just after Mahfuzâ€™s name became famous. The government should support this activity.