1970, oil on hardboard,
120 x 117 cm
1971 was a year of turbulent feelings for me, during which I was buffeted by
many contrary winds.
In 1955 I had done a cubist painting as part of my final pregraduation work at
the academy. It was called War, meaning a battle of antiquity, and I believe it
was inspired by Roger de la Fresnay.
In the foreground lies a fallen warrior, pure and gracious but near to his end. I
wanted it to depict with extraordinary force, the fact of no more existing. The
passing away of the strong and beautiful was the more poignant, the more
devastating loss.
This helplessly sprawled figure, which was to reappear frequently in the 1970's
with the titles Dead King and the Death of Cacabey, shows that even in 1955 I
was determined to bring down my gaily bedecked monarches, sooner or later, some
day.
* 1971 military coup at Turkey
1971, oil on canvas,
114 x 163 cm
1971,
oil on canvas,
82 x 90 cm
1971,
Drawing, colour pencil,
21 x 29 cm
1971,
pencil on paper
1972,
oil on canvas,
89 x 116 cm
Altan, who believes art can be learned only in museums, uses projections and books as only alternatives in his lessons. On the other hand, teaching by the book was the rule of his workshop master Z. Faik.