The House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany Foundation
The House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany Foundation acquired the work "Greta" by the artist Ali Zülfikar for the museum.
The House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany Foundation acquired the work "Greta" by the artist Ali Zülfikar for the museum.
While promoting a purchase, Dr. Ms. Benner from the Foundation House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany owns the funded artwork "Greta" for the museum. On behalf of Dr. Benner to the artist: "We read with interest about your Greta Thunberg portrait as part of the "Art for the Billboard" campaign in Karlsruhe and about the multiple defacements it has undergone during the presentation. As a museum of contemporary history, we are interested for political art and especially for the reactions it provokes. Since both come together in your painting, I would like to ask you whether you still own the painting and whether it might be possible to include it in our collection."
Ali Zülfikar exhibited the painting with the motif of the world-famous environmental activist in public space. With his large-format portrait drawing, he took part in the "Art on the billboard" campaign in Karlsruhe. But not all contemporaries liked the work of art because it was damaged. Unknown perpetrators first smeared a white mask over the face with a white brush and wrote "Heil Mask" across the portrait. Then another person painted the letters "G,!" with black spray. The result: "G-Heil Mask" The exhibition was then canceled.
Composition theme GRETA
In 2021, Ali Zülfikar created portraits of environmental activist Greta Thunberg under the topic name "GRETA". With his masterful, large-format, detailed portrait technique, he drew Greta and placed her on an oversized billboard measuring 360 x 260 cm.
The artist chose this theme to support their activities against the destruction of nature, which is limited due to the pandemic. Ali Zülfikar designs the composition in a burnt magenta color harmony. He uses natural materials such as wood, pencil, pigments, charcoal, etc. and emphasizes the harmonious interplay of art and nature as the geographical space that serves as the basis for the artwork. With his portrait art, he makes a socio-political contribution to the resource-saving sustainability debate in the visual arts scene. In 2021, the Cologne artist Ali Zülfikar received a grant from the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for the Greta portrait "Art on the billboard”.
GRETA || 360x260 || Pencil with pigment on wood || 2021 || The House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany Foundation
Ali Zülfikar was born in Milelis, Turkey in 1971. He studied at Firat University in Elazig with the well-known Turkish painter, Prof. Memduh Kuzay. He lives and works in Cologne, Germany, and has been a member of the collecting society Bild-Kunst in Bonn since 2018.
In 2020, 2021 and 2022 he received three grants from the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and a studio funded by the city of Cologne.
Ali Zülfikar's art works are admired by numerous art connoisseurs worldwide. So far, these have been shown in around 200 international solo and group exhibitions and museums.
In 2018, Zülfikar got into trouble in the Stadthalle in Linz/Rhein with a critical work showing Turkish President Erdogan. At that time, the Turkish Consul General Sibel Müderrisoglu intervened, and the city of Linz initially caved in too. Only when the mayor received assessments from the Foreign Office and the police, was the artist finally allowed to exhibit his work.
Ali Zülfikar was nominated "Artist of the Year" by the Turkish Ministry of Culture in 2017, the artist says he refuses to accept the award.
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KUNSTFORUM INTERNATIONAL || Karlsruhe: Greta-Thunberg-Porträt beschädigt
Karlsruhe: Greta-Thunberg-Porträt beschädigt
Der Kölner Künstler Ali Zülfikar erstellt Porträts der Umweltaktivistin Greta Thunberg unter dem Themennamen „GRETA“. Mit einer großformatigen Porträtzeichnung nahm er in Karlsruhe an der Aktion „Kunst an der Plakatwand“ teil. Doch nicht allen Zeitgenossen gefiel das Werk, denn es wurde beschädigt. Die Aktion, die eigentlich bis zum 15. Oktober 2021 dauern sollte, wurde daraufhin abgebrochen.
2018 hatte sich Zülfikar in der Stadthalle von Linz/Rhein schon einmal Ärger eingehandelt mit einer kritischen Arbeit, die den türkischen Präsidenten Erdogan zeigt. Damals intervenierte die türkische Generalkonsulin Sibel Müderrisoglu, und die Stadt Linz knickte zunächst auch ein. Erst als dem Bürgermeister Einschätzungen des Auswärtigen Amtes und der Polizei vorlagen, durfte der Künstler sein Werk schließlich doch ausstellen.
https://www.kunstforum.de/nachrichten/karlsruhe-greta-thunberg-portraet-beschaedigt
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