Coffee Cup Conversations

[jimm127]

Most of us have a full time 9 to 5 job that gives us an opportunity to survive and provide a stable life for ourselves and our families. Sometimes, if you are one of the lucky ones, you can also find the time to pursue other interests and hobbies. What may have started out as a childhood passion remarkably becomes something even more serious later in our lives. Turkish Cypriot Batu Gündal is one of the fortunate few amongst us - a graphic designer by day; a skilful artist the rest of the time.

I caught up with Batu prior to the opening of his very first personal art exhibition at the Atatürk Culture Centre in Lefkoşa on the 7th of September. Batu spent his childhood in the UK, but later moved out to North Cyprus at the young age of ten. He remembers that as a youngster he always enjoyed drawing and painting, and more often than not he drew pictures of his favourite cartoon characters and superheroes. At school he was always sketching and doodling and his friends turned to him for help when they had an art assignment to complete. Batu was always known as the 'artistic member' of the class.

Taking his passion for art seriously Batu was tutored formally by local artists and art teachers in the TRNC and eventually went to Turkey to study in the Fine Arts department at Haceteppe University. He is currently working as a graphic designer, but his heart belongs to the pencils and canvases he draws and paints on. During our chat I was shown some of Batu's work which consists of many portraits, mainly of women. "I am inspired by the human form, particularly the female body, and prefer to draw women," he tells me. Many of his pictures are pencil sketches that have splashes of colour added sporadically. They seem unfinished, and maybe they are, but Batu prefers to leave his paintings alone after he feels they are complete.

"Flux" is the title Batu has given to his first solo art exhibition and he is sharing his style, his passion, his soul with the public for the first time ever. "Our lives are constantly changing," says Batu, "That's why 'Flux' is the name of my exhibition." Usually most artists complete their work, then choose what to exhibit at their exhibition, however for Batu this is not the case. Working long hours on his computer at work Batu felt the need to be inspired, to make art. By giving himself the task of opening an exhibition, and with the extra burden of a deadline he had to ensure that he completed his art work in time. So the idea for the exhibition came first, the drawings came later, and most of the art on display has been created over the past year.

Batu also spends his free time with the youngsters at the Art Therapy centre located near Bellapais; inspiring the children attending the classes just like he was motivated years before. Batu hopes to eventually open up his own studio/shop/centre with the support of his photographer brother Ahmet. '

Flux' will be open during government office working hours between the 7th and 11th of September. The opening - a cocktail reception - will be at 7pm on Monday the 7th of September and will be conducted by Mr Aziz Gürpınar, TRNC Minister for Internal Affairs & Labour. If you are in the capital some time next week be sure to pop in and support this gifted young artist.