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Turkey’s living treasures
Master craftsman Sıtkı Olçar; Karagöz (traditional Turkish puppet show) masters Tacettin Diker, Orhan Kurt and Metin Özlen; Âşık (traditional Turkish minstrel) Şeref Taşlıova, Mehmet Girgiç; a master of the traditional felt art form of “keçe”; and wooden pipe artisan Hayri Dev all received certificates and awards at a ceremony held on Jan. 14 at İstanbul’s Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center. The ceremony also featured a documentary prepared by the Ministry of Culture about the lives and work of these seven craftsmen.
Olçar, for many years the most prominent Turkish name in the area of tiled artwork, is well known internationally. In 2008, the Turkish Ministry of Culture sent information to UNESCO about Olçar. As for the traditional Karagöz puppet show, the fact that it has not disappeared is due to these three names: Diker, Kurt and Özlen. And as to carrying on the tradition of Turkish minstrels (“Âşıklık”), Taşlıova has represented Turkey in festivals around the world and was thus one of the names honored at the ceremony in Istanbul. The same is true for Girgiç, who has brought the traditional “keçe” art form forward into the modern world.
Wooden pipe artisan Dev, after receiving his award, turned to the audience and noted: “It was the French who first saw the value of this form of artistry. The wooden pipe existed before the Romans and was valued as an instrument. I am very proud to receive this award.”
From this year on, the Ministry of Culture will identify and recognize Living Human Treasures in Turkey and will notify UNESCO of their nominations.
Tile art expert Sıtkı Olçar: “I see this praise as being a prize for all the difficulties I have faced.”
Karagöz expert Tacettin Diker has given over 60 years of his life to this work. Says Diker, “Karagöz has been mistreated so much, it is just great to live to see this day.”
Keçe expert Mehmet Girgiç: “I guess I need to work even more now.” He believes that the award itself represents an even more serious responsibility for him.
Karagöz expert Metin Özlen notes that he is extremely pleased to see both the government and the public stand behind himself and his fellow artisans.
Âşık Şeref Taşlıova: “I have received many awards, but this is by far the most valuable for me. I carried the others on my chest; this one I shall carry around on my head.”
Orhan Kurt notes that he has been working on Karagöz puppet plays since 1942. After receiving the prize, he said, “It has been officially registered that Karagöz is a native product of Turkey!”
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