Painter and writer (b. 1898, Gelibolu /
Çanakkale – d. 8 May 1987, İstanbul). His spent his childhood in Edirne. He
came to İstanbul when he was eight. He graduated from Vefa High School and the
Academy of Fine Arts. He opened his first exhibition in 1930. He founded the “D
Group” with five of his friends in 1933. He participated in all the mixed
exhibitions of this group in Turkey and abroad. He was appointed as Vice
Director of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Works and two years later, of
Topkapı Palace Museum in 1937. He retired on 13 July 1963. He worked in the
press for a period during his time as museum manager.
He worked at the newspapers Milliyet, İkdam, İleri, Tan and Cumhuriyet (40 years, 1937- 67). A grand
jubilee was organized for him on his 60th anniversary in the art world.
Articles written about him were collected in the book Elif’in 60 Yılı (60 Years of Elif). He was given the State Honorary
Plaque in 1982. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the İstanbul
Journalists Association in 1984, the Journalists Syndicate of Turkey
Appreciation Award and the Service Certificate from General Directorate of the
Press.
WORKS:
10 Yılda Resim 1923 -1933 (Painting in Ten Years 1923 / 1933, 1933), Şarkta Resim (Painting in the Orient, 1943), Elif'in 60 Yılı (60 Years of Elif, 1976), Anılardan Damlalar (Drops of Memoirs, 1981).
REFERENCE: Türkiye Ansiklopedisi (c. 2, s. 528-529, 1974), Erhan Karaesmen / Elif Naci (Gösteri Dergisi, 1981), Yurt Ansiklopedisi (c. I, 1982), Zahir Güvemli / TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (c. 11, sayfa: 38-39, 1995), Şükran Kurdakul / Şairler ve Yazarlar Sözlüğü (6. bas. 1999), İhsan Işık / Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006, 2007) - Ünlü Sanatçılar (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 5, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People (2013), Mehmet Nuri Yardım / Edebiyatımızın Güleryüzü (2002).
