Before the official opening night, which is only tomorrow night, you’ve been exposed to some insider info (aka pictures) from Münferit, while we tried and tested some of the food (please note that the cheese seen here will not be listed on the menu. The assemblage was just for the obese us), chairs and tables and everything else, including the music and the temperature of the beer stock.
Any artist who sites Donald Duck and Jesus Christ as the most important influences in their art must be worth taking a look at. - Someone on Gottfied Helnwein
Let me tell you about Gottfried Helnwein. He’s one of the greatest artists of our times to start with. A painter, photographer and many other things… His work falls into the contemporary category. And it’s strange because I don’t usually understand contemporary art, thus I don’t get what’s so great about it (’it’ generally being an abstract piece of artworkkkkk). But Helnwein is different. I get the idea/message behind those shocking images instantly and very clearly, and to me, that should be the way art is served. You shouldn’t need a rocket scientist’s brain to get the picture.
Having born and grown in Vienna right after the WWII, Gottfried Helnwein, for the first time in his childhood life, saw someone smiling in a Donald Duck comic book that his uncle had brought for him. So, now you get the picture. That post-war trauma being so evident in whatever he creates… Even when he draws/photographs children, it is always linked with pain and the betrayal of innocence. Helnwein’s work touches me deeply. Once exposed to one of his paintings or photographs, life is never the same. This is art, if you ask me. Art as we know it. Art as it should be.
Yesterday, something triggered me and I checked his website to see what Helnwein has been doing recently. And there in the ‘news’ section, I screamed at this fantastic piece of information:
Santralistanbul 01.September 2011
Museum for Contemporary Art, Main Gallery, Istanbul
HELNWEIN – RETROSPECTIVE
The exhibition coincides with the 12th Istanbul Biennial
Yesss!
Today, I want to talk about one particular Emre. He’s Emre Doğru to you – the talented Mr. Photographer. To me, he’s a little bit more than that. A good and funny friend who thinks a slice of bread is a useful tool while eating food… Let me explain that: Emre loves eating bread (what am I saying, he loves eating whatever is edible) and we try to avoid him whenever we can so that he doesn’t gain any more weight. But he has his own excuses as usual, and says God gave us the bread as a medium to push the food on a plate towards the fork. I once suggested him to try the knife instead and he was not very happy. I love Emre and the way his mind works. It is generally under the influence of his big and loving heart, and that is enough to make him a special person. I don’t exactly know why but I’ve been thinking about Emre a lot this morning and when I found myself in front of my computer, I felt the need to visit his website emredogru.com. I have totally forgotten that I’d written the words for his info text.
The above image of a far-away Emre, me and Seyhan was taken at 20ML’s New Year’s dinner back in 2007. I’m afraid that’s the most recent photo of us (not necessarily Seyhan, but Emre & I) together. How sad… Emre, where art thou? It’s been ages. If I bump into you somewhere, I think I have the right to ask “Emre, right?”
Of all the places in Istanbul, Beşiktaş occupies a weird part in my heart. I love the spirit and vivacity of the vicinity, which very much reminds me of my hometown İzmir, Karşıyaka in many ways. And of course, there is this “against” attitude of Beşiktaş Çarşı (Market) group that showcases itself in very and various creative formats. They remind me of me, as I am generally against… well, general things. The last time I visited the neighbourhood, the so-called Beşiktaş Çarşı group was against itself. That, I guess, tells it all, but there’s more to come. Last Saturday, on my way to another Beşiktaş excursion, I bumped into this outdoor ad of a slimming centre. Apparently, Beşiktaş Çarşı group is also against overweight. That’s what the advert slogan says. I cannot help but agree and once again fall in love with the wit.
This is a long story, but I’ve got time to tell, if you have time to read. The story involves a very good friend of mine by the name of Ferit and begins with his desire and attempt to set up a restaurant almost a year ago. A modern meyhane or a traditional meyhane with a twist to be more precise… I clearly remember the day when Ferit kindly asked me to help him in naming his new venture. We came up with “Münferit” for a lot of very good reasons in just one week. And within the next few weeks, Ferit found this perfect location for his restaurant in Galatasaray Fish Market, Ulaş designed the logo and the rest of the printed material, and Autoban, as usual, did a very good job in designing the restaurant’s interior. Life was perfect. Until it came to licensing the restaurant… That was impossible, disappointing and inhuman. Münferit had to shut doors before they officially got opened to the public. Fast forward 7-8 months… And here we are. This is Galata Residence in Galatasaray. Men at work at the new home of Münferit. That’s a dream coming true after going through hard times. I’ll hopefully be posting a new post about Münferit in the first week of April with a full plate of Ferit’s cooking right in front of me. And the restaurant license will definitely be joining us in the photos.
Everyone knows about V2K designers, right? Well, if you are not fat and ugly or living far abroad or under a rock in Istanbul, you surely do. And it’s likely to be your favourite multi-label fashion store in the city. The first site where you fell in love with Alexander Wang… Look up in your diary to recall that particular day. It should be there. But anyway, this post is not about falling in love with designers, though there’s no harm in flirting with them a little bit. Or maybe there is. Check your most recent credit card bill. The damage should be there. Anyway again… This post is about the latest V2K designers campaign. B&W images of a blonde, bed-head girl who manages to look sexy and very Rock’n Roll at the same time… The photographs were taken by my beautiful friend Demet Muftuoglu this past February in New York. Demet is not a trained photographer, she is not even a photographer, but here she goes… Artfully undone and very well done! Yeah!
For the rest of the images, take a walk on the wild side and head to V2K designers flagship store in Nişantaşı some time next week.
Life is short and full of terrible surprises. I will always remember you with your big smile, Nursel.
Bread&Butter is so many things. A contemporary fashion/textile fair held in some cities that begin with a “B”, for instance. A traditional pudding that is very British (very British that there’s even beer in it), is another example of what it stands for. And Bread&Butter is a nice, small, cute, yummy cafe in Istanbul. We were there last Saturday, adding some more fat to our already fat bodies and not caring about it.
For more calories: Bread&Butter, Mim Kemal Öke Cad. No: 1C Nişantaşı
The wait is ova! Can we go home now? Oh, yes, yeah, hurray! As of yesterday, finally and totally we’ve been Vouged. The premiere Turkish issue is out. Go and grab it. That’s it! That’s our edition! But again, can we go home now?
I have a few friends (actually only two) and a few acquaintances, who have dedicatedly locked themselves up in an ugly building for months to make Vogue Turkey come to life, so I’ll stop being stupid and be nice instead. Nicer than nice…
To start with, Vogue Turkey issue numero uno is heavy. I’m having trouble carrying it around despite the Pilates arms. Jessica Stam is on the cover. My least favorite model but still… (I’ll be grateful that it’s her on the cover later.) The layout is good, though not very Vogue, and close to being clean. Some pages look overcrowded but I’m sure they will sort it out soon. I haven’t read any of the written stuff yet, therefore “no comment” on the tone of voice or whatsoever for the time being. I like some of the fashion shoots. Some of them, I don’t like. And what else?
OK, for the rest, I now have to go through the magazine’s pages once again because I had only a very quick look in my first round. Here I go…
As I’m writing this, I turn over one page and see this girl. I know her from somewhere(s). She’s a model. A Turkish one. I turn over another page and hey, that’s her again. No, no, no, she is not a model but a fashion editor. Yes, she used to style fashion shoots for a bunch of magazines in the past. Here’s another “another” page and what a coincidence, that’s who else but her again. Isn’t she the owner of this vintage boutique? Yes, that’s definitely her. She’s not a model or stylist. I’m almost reaching the final but wait! I spot the same girl again on a totally “another” page. I suddenly remember who she really is. She is this all-of-the-above-cum-over-acting-actress who once stared in a TV series with a male co-star who will surely (well, hopefully) never make it in Vogue.
Then I locate her name on the magazine’s id page under some title with air suspension. And all of a sudden, the reason why I had some doubts about Vogue Turkey long before it made its debut, makes itself very clear.
Must indeed go home now. And must write an e-mail to French Vogue. I want to see Emmanuelle Alt making personal appearances on at least 15 different pages in their next issue.
Thanks to whoever for having Jessica Stam on the cover. Now, you know why.
But I don’t know why I can’t see a certain Serif Can Özcan’s name mentioned for his contributions to the magazine.
