More often than not ads for Turkey often leave you with the impression that you will see camels and belly dancers everywhere. In my piece, “Managing how visitors see Turkey” (May 4, 2007), you can read how Turkish youths sport baseball caps from their favorite soccer team, but tourists are offered a different type of hat to take home as a souvenir. The fez. You may wonder what this is. When Atatürk, the founder of the republic, embarked upon a program of political, economic and cultural reforms, with the aim to transform the former Ottoman Empire into a modern, Westernized and secular nation, the fez was banned. Though initially the fez was a symbol of Ottoman modernity, it came to be seen as an “Oriental” cultural, religious identity.
Usually the fez caps I have seen in tourist places are not beautifully crafted, crimson felt masterpieces, but are made of gaudy mock-arabesque stripy material stuck on to a cardboard base. In the article above I mention that I could list countless more examples such as those slippers with the curled up toes or an Aladdin or Princess Yasemin costume for children or a belly dancer’s scanty get-up. Don’t forget dolls of mustachioed men with baggy pants. It saddens me when Westerners are left with the impression that Turkey is not modern and progressive. All of these types of souvenirs portray an arabesque illusion: a Western romanticized version of the Arabian Nights: a patchwork woven from all the coats Turkey has shed.
You can’t imagine how thrilled I was to see the newly published book, “İstanbul Moves.” Graphic designer Justin Eccles and photographer Jose Reina use talent and technique to create works that mix graphic design and photography. The photography book is about the modern city of İstanbul. I believe the graphic designer and photographer have caught the reality of the city in a way that İstanbulites can recognize and visitors can seek.
I asked the contributors a few questions to better understand why they chose İstanbul as their subject and to learn a little about them. Here is what Justin Eccles has to say:
How long have you been in the business of design?
I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in fine arts and a degree in graphic design in 1999. I have been working professionally as an artist and designer since then. I sold my first painting when I was 19. I entered a large oil painting of a landscape into a juried exhibition. The painting won first prize and a local patron bought the painting.
What initially interested you in design?
As a child I was fascinated with billboards and advertisements that I would see as I rode in the back seat of my parents’ car. As I grew up, my parents recognized my natural gifts in art and design and they helped me to see how I could make a career out of something I enjoyed.
Which designer do you look up to and why?
In my early years I was largely influenced by Matisse, and most recently I have been influenced by Shepard Fairey.
Why did you choose İstanbul?
I have lived in İstanbul for eight years. I know İstanbul and love the city. We wanted to put our knowledge, love and excitement we feel about the city into a form that we could share with everyone. For an artist, it is hard not to be inspired by such a diverse and beautiful city.
What did you enjoy most about your photography/design assignment for your book about İstanbul?
I enjoyed being out in the city and trying to capture the dynamic voice of the city. The one constant that we recognized about the city while we were working on this project is that the city constantly moving.
If you could work alongside any one Turkish designer who would it be?
Erkut Terliksiz
What goal are you working towards within your design, and when will you know you have reached it?
I will never reach an end goal or be satisfied. I will never feel completed. I am constantly creating. That is the life of an artist, one who is compelled to create and not stop.
What genre of design do you dislike the most and why?
You can’t dislike design. Graphic design is visual communication. Everywhere you look, you see the result of communication that doesn’t require sound or words. Images can be as powerful as the ideas behind them.
I like how Justin ends his emails: “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
