Painter, multi instrumanist musician, art composer & performance artist and writer

He is a versatile artist: not only he paints, but also he writes and makes music...

Finding himself in the world of art since the early ages of his childhood, Tonguç Gökalp devotes his life to art. We thank him for allowing time and interviewing with us.

How long have you been painting and could your inform us about your education?

My father, Mustafa Gökalp was a painter and a professor of Aesthetic Sciences Art History and Archaeology at 9 Eylül University in İzmir. I started dealing with painting and plastic arts at early ages receiving the special knowledge and experience of my father, master in other words, practically and theoretically. During the following years, I composed my plastic skills at Ege University Turkish Music Conservatory String Instruments Production Department in İzmir. My first participation to a painting exhibition was as an invitee for a group exhibition of talented children hosted by İzmir Governorship in 1985. It was a 50 children peace subject exhibition composed of 10-12 year old children from all over the world. artwith

Is there any art movements or branches affecting your art?

Absolutely yes; these branches and movements are traditional handicrafts, avant-garde art and liberal arts. I composed my style intellection and technique synthesising these three main movements and branches. I technically examined the formation, progress and production period of the traditional arts such as calligraphy, glamorizing art; I synthesized the style and technique intellection of constructivist, cubist, psychedelic, expressionist, surrealist movements in modern art; and so I reached to my own art’s composing and style phase. I also benefit from the theoretical and technical style intellection of sciences such as philosophy, physics, mathematics, metaphysics, cybernetics, etc.

What could you tell us about your musician, audio-visual and performance artistry?

Again at my early ages, I had the opportunity of improving myself at music with the influence of my mother. My interest to primary instruments, the sound of industrial instruments and materials showed me that I could be active in this field. I improved myself in playing guitar, bass guitar, percussion, drum, etc. and had the opportunity of examining and performing different music instruments before my university education. I learned the construction technique of string instruments at university; I am a luthier however I don’t practise my profession currently. In time, I was influenced by an art movement called “fluxus” which combines visuality, auditory, and Dadaist philosophy; and now I have performances on analogue visual and audial paintings with metaphysic audio intersection at the same platform.

Do you have exhibition and performance projects for the future?

As I stated above, the intersection of visual perception with concrete materials and sounds is so important; digital perception can interfere everything today. Unbelievable imaginary worlds are created with effects and vectorial programs. According to me, life is already an illusion; I name the act committed in order to prove the reality of moral world in the ephemeral world intellection as art; so I find using analogue materials without spoiling the tissue of real creation more sincere. There should be instruments and real paints composed of human nature; digital instruments are also necessary, however machines should not control us; we should direct them naturally. I benefit from digital machines for my performances, but, in my opinion, all my materials should consist of sounds, real paints, surfaces, instruments and equipment which are not estranged and are suitable for magnificently created human and human perception. I will have exhibitions in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Gaziantep, Konya in Turkey. I am planning an exhibition in London, and I hope I have an exhibition opportunity in Qatar. Sharing my art and philosophy with all nations will make me so happy.

Lastly, what would you like to tell us?

First of all, thank you very much for your kind interest for me and other artists. Your effort for combining and introducing cultures is worth respect. Congratulating you, I hope to meet you in Qatar at an exhibition. With love and respect…

#art