Family Trees

(since 1990 - continuing)

1990/1991

1992/1993

Family Tree

First sample of family tree 1984,
indelible pencil and watercolor on paper,
12 pieces, 50 x 70 cm each

Altan's work on the family trees reflect and form his own definite world. Each family tree composition changes in the limits of this world. These paintings can not be loaded with any meaning in terms of content, or because the paintings are abstract and leave little place for the concrete, or because they do not include concrete expressions or signs and we cannot find any theme in them.
Analyzing these family tree related compositions, we have the "Özdemir", the "Ich bin Maler" inscription, multiplication signs, hatched circles, connecting linear blots, filled-in round family trees, an empty paint tube, the letters 'R' and 'M', the inscription "Hommage &agrav; Cobra", two arrows drawn in a single line, the expression 'fiiiii....', stylized star motives, letter prints, zig-zags, etc.
Özdemir Altan 's signature appears like any other motive in the work. For Altan, anything taking place in the picture can be one of its elements.
The manner in which the signature is thrown on the canvas varies from the simple hatching to the spontaneous mode of a nervous artist. Each of these huge signatures thrown at random on the canvas, constitutes one of the thousand elements, similar and different, that bring about unity.

Family Tree

1991,
Oil on canvas

Family Tree

1990,
Acrylic on paper,
70 x 100 cm

Family Tree

1991,
Oil on canvas,
130 x 194 cm

Family Tree

1991,
Acrylic on paper,
70 x 100 cm

Family Tree

1990,
Mixed techniques on paper,
70 x 100 cm

Family Tree

1992,
Oil on canvas,
27 x 35 cm

Family Tree, detail

1992,
Oil on canvas

Family Tree

1992,
Oil on canvas,
35 x 51 cm

Family Tree

1992,
Oil on canvas

Family Tree

1993,
Mixed techniques on hardboard,
25 x 35 cm

Family Tree

1993,
Oil on canvas,
29 x 56 cm

Family Tree

1993,
Oil on canvas,
27 x 35 cm

Family Tree

1993,
Acrylic on canvas,
81 x 100 cm

Calendar Pages

Calendar page, over a painting by Refik Epikman

1994,
Mixed techniques,
43 x 31 cm

" In my home at Beylerbeyi, there was a calendar on the kitchen wall displaying different painters' works. I could stand having them in front of me while eating for a few days at the most. It's hard to bear paintings that are neither masterpieces nor yours. This must be the reason why artists don't like each other's work. I had to change the sheets of the calendar at least once a week."

Calendar page, over a painting by Tomur Atagök,

1994,
Mixed techniques,
25 x 25 cm

Calendar page, over a painting by Veysel Günay,

1994,
Mixed techniques,
18 x 25 cm

Family Tree

1994,
Acrylic on canvas,
150 x 200 cm

Family Tree

1995,
Mixed techniques on paper,
70 x 100 cm

Family Tree

1995,
lithography,
88 x 70 cm

Family Tree

1995,
Oil on canvas,
89 x 116 cm

Family Tree

1995,
Acrylic on canvas,
65 x 81 cm

Family Tree

1995,
Oil on canvas,
74 x 96 cm

Family Tree

1996,
Oil on canvas,
130 x 97 cm

Family Tree

1996,
Acrylic on canvas

Family Tree

1996,
Acrylic on canvas,
150 x 200 cm

Family Tree

1996,
Mixed techniques on paper

Family Tree

1996,
Mixed techniques on paper,
97 x 130 cm

Person as an Element of Art:

"All living beings in front of
and inside a work become
an element of that work."

An installation by Deniz Öztürk. The artist and Altan on the telephone.

1999

Altan and his students participate in an installation work by Deniz Öztürk.

1996

Grandchild Yağmur Altan, inside and in front of the first panel work.
F. Işılay in front of a work of Altan.

1996,
installation

Family Tree (with Şafak Işılay)

1997,
Mixed techniques on paper,
65 x 81 cm

Family Tree

Oil on canvas,
162 x 130 cm

Family Tree

1997,
Mixed techniques

Untitled

1998,
Mixed material,
28 x 33 x 4 cm

Family Tree (with Şafak Işılay)

1998,
Oil on canvas,
162 x 130 cm

Family Tree

1998,
Oil on canvas,
130 x 162 cm

Family Tree

1998,
Acrylic on canvas,
160 x 300 cm

A new version of Altan's collective work

Painting exhibition at Yurt ve Dünya Gallery, Istanbul

12th May, 1999

Altan and Zekai Ormancı

1999,
Mixed techniques on canvas,
162 x 130 cm

Altan and Atalay Elpe

1999,
Mixed techniques,
162 x 130 cm

Altan and A. Arpat

1999,
Mixed techniques,
162 x 130 cm

Altan, A. Arpat, A. Öztopçu

1999,
Mixed techniques,
162 x 130 cm

Family Tree (with Çelen Sucu)

1999,
Mixed techniques on canvas,
60 x 75 cm

Family Tree

1999,
Acrylic on canvas,
60 x 75 cm

Family Tree (left side: Before opening of the Şafak Işılay part)

2000,
Oil on canvas,
70 x 80 cm

Family Tree (left side: Before opening of the Şafak Işılay part)

2000,
Oil on canvas,
70 x 80 cm

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
130 x 162 cm

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
130 x 162 cm

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
130 x 162 cm

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
150 x 200 cm

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
89 x 116 cm,
with Şafak Işılay

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
89 x 116 cm,
with Şafak Işılay

Family Tree

2000,
Oil on canvas,
with Şafak Işılay