“Where are the Women in the Writing of Art History?”
Prof. Tomur Atagök
Any attempt at writing a comprehensive history of modern art in Turkey, would require the telling of stories, either through figure, or landscape, or women. Just like modernization having several symbols, the history of plastic arts in Turkey also advanced through symbols. First in the texts written by Nurullah Berk, and later, as the market was gradually formed, in the texts consisting of reiterations of Berk’s discourse, these symbols were ignored; positioning oneself where one desires to be, close to the art movements that one favour was preferred. Since one of the symbols of modernization was the woman, the framework of this seminar will focus on how and under what conditions this “symbol” was ignored in the writing of art history.
Tomur Atagök
Born in Istanbul, the artist had graduated from Robert College and went abroad to the United States of America where she received her BFA and MA degrees (University of California, Berkeley) before returning home to Turkey. After serving as the Assistant Director of Mimar Sinan University Museum of Painting and Sculpture, Tomur Atagök started to work as Head of Culture, Press and Public Relations at Yıldız Technical University, and founded and chaired the Graduate Program of Museum Studies. She conducted numerous researches and worked on a number of projects on arts and museums, as well as publishing on the subjects. She served as the Dean of Yıldız Technical University’s Faculty of Art and Design in 2004-2006. She realized various solo exhibitions, participated in national and international exhibitions, and received awards. Since her retirement in 2006, Tomur ATAGÖK has been living and working in Demirciköy, Sarıyer, Istanbul.
Event is free. Number of participants is limited. You can take your invitation card one hour before the beginning time of the event.