The 72nd episode of the “Evolution of Art” program, prepared in collaboration with Evrim Art and Mikado Communication, which continues to host important names from the art world and new generation artists, has been published on the Turkey News Portal and YouTube channel.
This week’s guest on the program was Yahya Sırrı Turgut, one of the notable names of the young generation, who has made a name for himself with his original works in the field of string art. In the program hosted by Günsu Saraçoğlu, Turgut shared his artistic journey, sources of inspiration, and future projects in a sincere conversation with the audience.
From Aircraft Maintenance to Art Management: An Interdisciplinary Journey
Born in Istanbul in 2001, Yahya Sırrı Turgut stated that he began his artistic life inspired by his mother’s filigraphy works. He emphasized that his education in Aircraft Maintenance at Sabiha Gökçen Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School provided an important foundation for his art by strengthening his competence in manual dexterity, use of technical materials, and planning. Turgut, who completed his undergraduate degree in Art and Cultural Management at Yıldız Technical University, continues his graduate education in art and design at the same university.
From the Film Industry to Strings on Canvas
Turgut is also active in different disciplines of art. The young artist, who shared that he has a 3-4 year background in the art department of the film and series industry and still works in this field, stated that the high tempo and dynamism of the set environment help balance and nourish his string art work, which requires patience and tranquility in his studio.
Reinterpreting Known Images with Strings
Having been involved in string art for about 4 years and participating in fairs and exhibitions professionally for the last 2 years, Turgut particularly prefers figures and images that are ingrained in the collective memory and are well-known (Atatürk, Salvador Dali, Nene Hatun, horse figures, etc.) in his works. He says his aim is to create a stronger bond between the viewer and the artwork and to build a bridge between traditional and contemporary art. Each piece, completed in about 2-3 weeks using an average of 5 km of string, creates great surprise and admiration as viewers often mistake them for charcoal drawings at first glance.
Leaving a Mark on the Future with Academia and Workshops
Yahya Sırrı Turgut is also interested in the academic dimension of this art form that he practices. Having presented a paper on string art at an international symposium and preparing his master’s thesis in this field, Turgut aims to address the lack of Turkish resources and provide an academic contribution to the field. He also places great importance on developing the creativity of new generations and introducing them to art through workshops he organizes with children.
New Projects and Communication
Yahya Sırrı Turgut, who continues to work on projects that will extend to different dimensions like colorful works and sculptures, can be reached via his Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok accounts to follow his works and creative processes.
