President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan approved for the following names to receive 2016 Presidential Culture and Art Grand Prizes on recommendation of the Evaluation Committee formed by Secretary General for Presidency Fahri Kasırga, Deputy Secretary General for Presidency Assoc. Dr. İbrahim Kalın, Chief Press Adviser for Presidency Lütfullah Göktaş, Adviser to the President H. Hümeyra Şahin, Undersecretary of Culture and Tourism Ömer Arısoy, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü President Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş and author Alev Alatlı:
ORD. PROF. DR. SÜHEYL ÜNVER
He gave works committed to continuity of Turkish culture on these prolific lands with an infallible faith and perseverance. He presented the Turkish nation and the world with his poetic works of wisdom, his illuminations and watercolour paintings by reflecting these in works of science and art.
PROF. DR. KEMAL HAŞİM KARPAT
He shed light on many issues through his scientific studies, breaking grounds in historiography and social analysis. In particular, he led the way in methodological respect through his studies he carried out from social perspective rather than state’s perspective particularly to history of modernization.
MUSTAFA KUTLU
In pursuit of the depth of Anatolian people, he presented various reflections of the same issue and its impacts on different life-styles together with a solid criticism of the modern age. As he observed the city through the eyes of a person from the country, he defended our own history and values against alienation. By establishing robust bridges with the society, he wrote the story of Turkish lands.
PROF. DR. EROL PARLAK
By systematizing “Şelpe” technique, he represented the tradition of playing baglama with hand in the modern period. He conveyed the cultural wealth and spirit of Anatolia to the world with his playing techniques. Without abandoning the essence and tradition, he continued to discover the limits of art of music through new initiatives. He made the most comprehensive study on Neşet Ertaş who was a performer next to making major academic contributions to literature of Turkish music.
FERİDUN ÖZGÖREN
He brought the Americans together with Ottoman and Turkish music tunes in Cambridge Music Society he was the founder of. He produced the musical instruments he is a virtuoso of, and also taught how to build these as part of master-apprentice relations. He reintroduced the forgotten “çeng” instrument to Turkish music he built with inspiration from figures in miniature paintings. As a master, he survived old and deeply-rooted crafts, mainly marbling.
ŞENER ŞEN
He went beyond character acting in Turkish cinema, and he portrayed distinct characters with his authentic talent and performance, introducing unforgettable characters and lines still quoted on the silver screen. By successfully reflecting the people of the country that inspired him and their problems, he expressed his social stand through the fine language of art. Without placing importance on the role he plays, he did his job and showed as a great actor that “there are no minor roles”.
Leave a Comment