Artist Lütfü Kaplanoğlu was the guest of the Evolution of Art program this week. Günsu Saraçoğlu, the producer and host of the program, shared detailed insights about Lütfü Kaplanoğlu’s artistic journey with the audience.
In the episode aired on August 15, 2025, at 18:30 on Türkiye Haber Portalı’s YouTube channel, viewers had the opportunity to explore Lütfü Kaplanoğlu’s life journey.
During the program, Kaplanoğlu revisited the very beginning of his artistic journey and shared an unforgettable memory about how his passion for painting began: “I remember a period when I worked very hard. Our house was by the roadside, and I vividly recall watching the trucks pass by from the balcony.” He explained how this childhood curiosity transformed into artistic expression when he constantly drew trucks in elementary school.
He highlighted the advantage of being one of the first students at Turkey’s 6th Fine Arts Faculty in Erzurum, working with “idealist instructors” who were eager to prove themselves. Reflecting on the competitiveness he felt at the time, he said, “There was a sense that Istanbul was running ahead while we were left behind. At the end of each term, I would come to Istanbul and visit all the galleries and museums.” However, years later, when he moved to Istanbul, this perception changed dramatically. He expressed this shift with a striking observation: “Years later, when I started working in Istanbul, I realized that it was actually Anatolia that was running ahead. Istanbul was asleep.”
A Mission Dedicated to Printmaking: Engravist
Kaplanoğlu shared the origins of his “Engravist” project, which he launched to revive the art of printmaking—an art form he believes is often treated as a “photocopy” in Turkey’s art market and does not receive the recognition it deserves.
Drawing from his experiences in projects like “Erzurum Prints” and “Ahlat Prints” at Atatürk University, he established this platform in Istanbul to break down the perceptual barriers surrounding the art form. Through Engravist, he brought together hundreds of artists from the Balkans and across Turkey, organizing 13 technical workshops and over 10 exhibitions both domestically and internationally, significantly contributing to the recognition and spread of printmaking.
Art Philosophy: “Love,” Freedom, and the Artist’s Right to Nonsense
Kaplanoğlu also elaborated on the conceptual framework of his recent exhibition, “Love,” emphasizing that it was not about a romantic relationship but rather “the artist losing themselves in art, the love affair with their craft.” He described this theme as the artist’s adventure of self-realization by pushing away everything else in the world and creating their own artistic language.
Believing that art movements often restrict artists, he stated his philosophy: “The source of art is emotion. Emotion is abstract, and I believe art should be abstract as well.” Advocating for artistic risk-taking, he shared a piece of advice he frequently gives his students: “Exercise your right to nonsense. Take risks. We need to take risks to realize ourselves.”
A Door to Art in Cihangir: Art Mahal
After years of producing art in academic circles, Kaplanoğlu introduced his new space, “Art Mahal” in Cihangir, born from his desire to be “closer to the public.” He designed it as a place where art lovers could enter without hesitation and engage in direct dialogue with the artist.
With the slogan “The door is ajar,” this space aims to break the sometimes distant and “cool” atmosphere that galleries can create. He delightfully shared anecdotes, such as passersby filming him working and sending him videos, as proof that the space is achieving its purpose.
New Projects on the Horizon: Europe Tour in 2026
Touching on his future plans, Lütfü Kaplanoğlu announced preparations for solo exhibitions in Germany, the UK, and France (added during the program) in 2026. Despite logistical challenges, he aims to showcase large-scale canvas works this time.
Additionally, he revealed plans to launch an international artist exchange program at Art Mahal, initially hosting artists from North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.
This episode featuring Lütfü Kaplanoğlu’s candid conversation about the art world can be watched on Türkiye Haber Portalı’s YouTube channel.
About the Program:
Evolution of Art is a program that explores different disciplines of art in Turkey, bringing artists and their creative processes to the audience. Each week, it continues to shed light on the evolution of art with a new guest.
