Painter (B.1903,
Bursa – D. 20 April 1990, Ankara). During his high school years he worked as a
board painter for Cemal Nadir for a period.
In 1921 he entered Fine Arts Academy. He received here painting
education in the workshop of İbrahim Çallı until 1930. After 1923 he joined Galatasaray
and Akademi exhibitions with Bursa
views. He won in 1930 the exam to study in Europe
but could not go to because the state did not send any student in that year
abroad. Between 1934 and 37 he taught painting in Konya in various high schools. Upon Atatürk's
request he held exhibitions in 1936 in Moscow, Kiev and Leningrad
to introduce Turkish painting arts. He was appointed painting teacher in Fine
Arts Academy in 1937. In 1967 he retired from this position.
Şefik Bursalı's
artistic style was near to half-expressionist half-academic tendency of 1910
generation. They were pioneers among typical samples of regional landscape
tradition which could be called country paintings era. In his landscapes of Bursa and Konya
periods his effort to reflect the country’s nature in an honest and pure
expression was obvious. Aside from his landscapes, especially in his portraits
and nu figures, classical interpretation awareness was dominant which was
caused by the effort of uniting the figure with color, line structure with the
taste of paint. His concern to reflect the nature in fresh greens, yellow and
brown nuances, remaining loyal to values of view but without turning to a
dry academism contributes to Şefik Bursalı's artistic style an original
dimension. The connection of this characteristic with the knowledge and
experience accumulation he acquired during his education in the academy did not
prevent personal preferences to be alone with the country’s nature directly
especially in next years. A fine sensation power among shadows and half
shadows, light and dark color tones and details which tend to volumetric
explanations from time to time which does not overlooks figure activity grasps
the observer together with the mentioned preferences and arouses a love of
nature. Şefik Bursalı managed to keep his line continuously and permanently.
Except for short periods he always prioritized his
opinion that the real arts could only develop in the artist’s sensibility which
is integrated with nature.
He held his
first personal exhibition in 1960
in Bursa
Municipality. For a long
period he did not hold any exhibition and only participated to state
exhibitions. However he held three personal exhibitions in 1980 and 1983 in Ankara
and 1982 in
Istanbul. He
received the second prize in 1966
in 27th State Painting and Sculpture Exhibition
with his table titled Bakırköy'de Eski
Baruthane. In 1973, 1980 and 1982 state exhibitions he received achievement
awards.