Şakir Eczacıbaşı

Businessman, photograph artist, writer, translator (B.1929, Izmir – D. 24 January 2010, Istanbul). He started his education in Robert College, and completed the Faculty of Pharmacy of London University. After he returned to the motherland, he was engaged with journalism a while, and in the following years he took part among the publishers of the well known Sanat Yaprağı of Vatan. In 1995, he started working in Eczacıbaşı Holding. Between 1960 and 1962, he prepared the series of Eczacıbaşı Cultural Films together with Sabahattin Eyüboğlu and Pierre Biro. Among these films, Renk Duvarları was awarded “Award of Cultural Films” of the Council of Europe in 1964.

In 1965, he pioneered in the foundation of Turkish Cinémathèque Association and served as the president of the association lasting 10 years. In the 1960s becoming interested in photography, Şakir Eczacıbaşı made a name for himself at home and abroad in Contemporary Photography Artists in a short time. Having organized several exhibitions of photography, the artist’s exhibition titled Anlar and Türkiye Renkleri aroused great interest. Since 1968, he had published the Eczacıbaşı Colored Photograph Annuals. He arranged collection of works of Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde.

In the 1970s, Şakir Eczacıbaşı became the General Director of Eczaçıbaşı Pharmaceutical Institution; he served as the president of the Executive Board of Eczacıbaşı Group in 1980 and as CEO of Eczacıbaşı Holding in 1993.

Şakir Eczacıbaşı left the business life in 1996, and until then served as the Chairman of the Board of İKSV (Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts) with a great success. During his presidency, he pioneered to open 36 exhibitions of photography at home and abroad, and organized five International Festivals of Arts. Thanks to his works, he was honored with the Order of Chivalry of Arts and Literature of France and the Order of Merit by the Republic of Turkey. The master artist was mentioned most often with his photographs and advanced him in photography.

      Known with his interest and contributions to the art of photography and cinema, Şakir Eczacıbaşı also published a book titled Kapılar Pencereler as an author in 2003. On the date of 26 January 2010 Tuesday, after the funeral prayer in the Mosque of Teşvikiye, he was committed to the ground in the Cemetery of Zincirlikuyu.