Olcay Art Logosu

Adnan Çoker

Curriculum Vitae

  • 1927 Born on October 20th at the house of his father, Yahya, in Süleymaniye, İstanbul. His mother, Ayşe Saniye, passed away six months afterwards.
  • 1928 Moved to Samatya along wih his grandfather and lived there until 1942.
  • 1934-39 Studied at Samatya Hacı Kadın Primary School.
  • 1939 - 42 Enrolled in Davutpaşa Elementary School.
  • 1942 He was instructed in watercolours by Hayri Çizel, who taught arts at the same school.
  • 1943 Studied for a year in the elementary section of Afyon High School. Advised by his arts mentor, Enver Kınaylı to enrol in the Academy of Fine Arts following his graduation.
  • 1944 Won the first prize with his figure drawings in a contest amongst artists in Afyon.
  • 1942 Registered into the Academy by the then-vice principal Sait Akkaya during the tenure of the principal, Namık İsmail.
  • 1944-45 Studied under Şefik Bursalı’s gallery education at the Academy of Fine Arts.
  • 1945-51 Studied for five years at Zeki Kocamermi’s studio.
  • 1945-51 Received compositional education from Halil Dikmen.
  • 1947 Worked on cartoons under the directorship of Vedat Ar, alongside Ali Durukan and Orhan Dar.
  • 1948-51 Received various prized at Academy concurs.
  • 1949 Participated in Academy debates.
  • 1951 Graduated from the Department of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts on July 2nd.
  • 1951-52 Completed his National Service as reserve-officer.
  • 1951-55 Worked on occasional basis with sculptor Hadi Bara on “Espas”.
  • 1953 Produced a 170 x 240 cm composition, dubbed “The Era of the Conqueror”, with Lütfü Günay for the 500th anniversary of the Conquest of Constantinople.
  • 1953-55 Worked in Ankara and İstanbul as drawing clerk and cartographer.
  • 1955 Designed an abstract composition mural for the exterior of a toyshop in Pangaltı.
  • 1955 Travelled to Paris with state scholarship after winning the European concurs,
  • 1956 Continued his language education alongside his professional research in Parisian and nearby galleries and museums.
  • 1956 Performed professional studies in Brussels, Den Haag and Amsterdam in February.
  • 1956-57 Worked at Andre Lhote’s studio between February 1st and July 1st. Later, he abandoned Lhoteian discipline.
  • 1957-60 Continued his abstract expressionist works Goetz Studio at Academie de la Grande Chaumiere.
  • 1957 During a trip in July and August, produced a series of graphical works in Spain, inspired by Altamira Caverns.
  • 1958 Having returned to Turkey for a summer vacation during in August and September, discovered İstanbul blue. Began his “Blue” works following his return to Paris for to continue his education.
  • 1959 Reproduced Breugel’s “Beggars” at a threefold scale at Louvre Museum between March and June.
  • 1959 Conducted professional research in Italy and Switzerland.
  • 1959 His February works were elected for the concurs of foreign artists who had studied in Paris for three years and two of his works Space, 1959, oil on canvas, 73 x 100 cm, Henri Goetz Collection; Red Space, 1959, oil on canvas, 73 x 100 cm, Private collection) were exhibited at Musée d’Art Moderne. 1960 Returned home in March, following the completion of his education in the West. Returned to the Academy as teaching assistant to the Department of Painting.
  • 1961 On May 13th, bequeathed two works to İstanbul Festival of Painting and Sculpture at İstanbul Municipality City Gallery, where he won the first prize with his artwork, “Red”.
  • 1962 Performed “Painting Alongside Music” with students for the first time on May 21st at the Academy of Fine Arts.
  • 1962 Participated in the 23rd State Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, where he won the first prize in painting on April 30th.
  • 1963 Presented “Jazz With Records” at the Academy throughout the year.
  • 1963 Founded the “Blue Group” with A. Gürman, Devrim Erbil, and T. Tuna.
  • 1963 Repeated the performance, “Painting Alongside Music” on May 10th, with the participation of 13 students.
  • 1964 Travelled to Paris with a second French scholarship. Began his “Paintings with Black Backdrop” while studying etching with W. Hayter, and painting at Goetz Studio.
  • 1965 Returned home following the completion of his studies in Paris.
  • 1965 Travelled to Salzburg to attend Summer Academy with Austrian scholarship and produced abstract works at the Emilio Vedova Studio. These works were exhibited a year later alongside his collages.
  • 1966 On 18 April he repeated the “Painting Alongside Music” performance once again, with students. The performance was accompanied by sculptor Ergin Kolbek.
  • 1966 Appointed lecturer to the Department of Painting at the State Academy of Fine Arts.
  • 1967 Organised the exhibition “Retrospective Exhibition” by Cemal Tollu at the Academy on April 17th and prepared the exhibition brochure.
  • 1968 Worked at the opening of the exhibition “Turkish Graphic Arts” in Budabest on February 16th, where he was the sole selector and commissar.
  • 1969 Appointed associate professor at the State Academy of Fine Arts in August.
  • 1971 Participated at a discussion on “Turkish Painting”, moderated by G. Elibar, at İstanbul Moda Lausanne Club, alongside C. Burak and Ö. Uluç.
  • 1973 Categorised and opened “Turkish Art in Fifty Years” at the State Academy of Fine Arts on October 26th.
  • 1974 Served as exhibition commissar alongside T. Erol at “Contemporary Turkish Art Exhibition”, opened at Unesco in Paris.
  • 1976 Organised the exhibition “Collected Works of Zühtü Müritoğlu”, between May 7th-21st and prepared the exhibition catalogue.
  • 1976 Appointed professor to the Department of Painting at the State Academy of Fine Arts.
  • 1977 Organised the exhibitions, “Collected Works of Nurullah Berk”, between February 25th and March 16th, and “Collected Works of Sabri Berkel” between April 28th and May 16th, for both of which Çoker prepared the exhibition catalogues.
  • 1977 Served as Director at İstanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture between 14 July 1977 and 24 May 1979.
  • 1978 Served as Artistic Commissar at the Turkish Section of the 12th Mediterranean Alexandria Art Biennial on March 30th.
  • 1978 Served as exhibition commissar at the Turkish Section of “Balkan Counties Exhibition for Plastic Arts”, opened at Bucharest.
  • 1979 Organised the exhibition and designed the catalogue of “Collected Works of Zeki Kocamemi”, between May 3rd-22nd in Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts.
  • 1979 Resigned from the directorship of İstanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture.
  • 1983 Organised the exhibition “Collected Works of Osman Hamdi and the School of Fine Arts”, between March 4th-23rd at the İstanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture and prepared the exhibition catalogue.
  • 1983 Appointed Chair of the Department of Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Mimar Sinan University (MSÜ).
  • 1984 In August he was appointed to jury to competitive exhibition “Enka Science and Arts Award”.
  • 1984 Appointed jury to “İnönü Foundation Painting Contest”, on November 21st.
  • 1985 Conducted examination trips in France and Italy, between July 11th and August 12th.
  • 1985 Resigned from the Chair of the Department of Painting at MSÜ Faculty of Fine Arts on August 31st.
  • 1986 Served as International Jury in 1st International Asia-Europe Art Biennial on November 30th.
  • 1987 Activated Mine Art Gallery between April 25th and October 25th, and organised its first exhibition, “Contemporary Art” in Kadıköy, on October 12th-13th.
  • 1988 Organised the documentary exhibition “The Autonomous and Group D” at Mine Art Gallery, between January 10th and February 10th.
  • 1989 Served as artistic consultant at Ekim TV for the series “From Sanayi- Nefise School to Fine Arts Academy”
  • 1995 Retired as professor from Mimar Sinan University.
  • 2010 Exhibition at Beşiktaş Contemporary Art Gallery, “Retrospective” was opened alongside and was accompanied by its catalogue.
  • 2013 Curated and participated with two artworks in A TEAM exhibition at S-ART by Sürmeli between November 21st and January 21st (2014).
  • 2014 Participated in Cİ Contemporary İstanbul with Olcay Art Gallery between November 13th and 16th.

Private Exhibitions

  • 2010 Retrospective Painting Exhibition, Beşiktaş Contemporary
  • 2007 Artdepo Art Gallery, Artİstanbul, İstanbul
  • 2007 Structural Rhythm (in commemoration of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk), March 21st – April 21st, Mac Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 2004 “Art İstanbul International Gathering of Contemporary Art”, December 7th-12th, Mine Art Gallery Stand
  • 2003 “Painting between 1995 – 2003”, April 7th – May 15th, Mine Art Gallery, İstanbul 2001 “Structure and Instinct” (VLAM Project – featuring Mustafa Ata), November 6th – December 10th, Bebek Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1996 “Compilations”, October 11th – November 17th, Mine Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1996 “Additional Elements”, October 2nd – November 2nd, Aksanat Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1994-95 “Minimals and Variations”, October 25th – December 10th (The exhibition furthered to January 10th, 1995), Gallery B, İstanbul
  • 1993 “In Parallel with Domes”, December 10th – January 4th, Gallery Nev, Maçka, İstanbul
  • 1991 “Works from Paris and İstanbul in 1959-1965”, February 15th – March 15th, Arda Sanat Gallery, Ankara
  • 1990 Attending 3rd International Asia - Europe Art Biennial as the only selected artist from Turkey (11 grand artworks).
  • 1990 “Periods”, February 2nd – March 8th, Mine Art Gallery, İstanbul 1989-90 “Graphical Works Abstract Expressionist Period (1959-1965)”, December 5th – January 14th, Maçka Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1989 “Retrospeective Painting Exhibition”, May 12th – July 12th, Derimod Centre of Culture, İstanbul / A 120-page book of the artist was published for the exhibition. 1988 “Minimal Symmetry II”, April 4th-30th, Mine Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1988 “Minimal Symmetry II”, January 8th- 29th, Harbiye Garanti Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1986 “Minimal Symmetry I”, May 13th – June 7th, Maçka Art Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1979 “Symmetries”, March 1st-14th, State Gallery of Fine Arts, İstanbul
  • 1973 “Black Symmetry”, March 20th – April 2nd, American Centre of Culture, İstanbul (featuring Metamorphosis by Yannis Xenakis superimposed on ney performance by Niyazi Sayın)
  • 1969 “Black Paintings”, March 7th – 22nd, American Centre of Culture (Featuring electronic music by İlhan Mimaroğlu)
  • 1966 “Colour with Glue – Collages”, Exhibition April 11th- 22nd, Turkish- German Centre of Culture, İstanbul
  • 1962 “Gouaches”, March 26th – April 6th, Turkish- German Centre of Culture, İstanbul
  • 1961 “Painting Works”, April 3rd – 14th, Turkish-German Centre of Culture, İstanbul
  • 1955 “Non-Objective and Abstract Paintings”, Adnan Çoker and Ali Durukan, May 2nd – 17th, Maya Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1954 Non-Objective and Abstract Paintings”, Adnan Çoker and Lütfü Günay, April 6nd – 19th, Maya Gallery, İstanbul
  • 1954 Non-Objective and Abstract Paintings”, Adnan Çoker and Lütfü Günay, February 6nd – 179h, Helikon Society, Ankara
  • 1953 “Pre-exhibition”, First Abstract Painting Exhibition by Adnan Çoker and Lütfü Günay, February 10th – 16th, Faculty of Language, History and Geography, Ankara

Awards

  • 1951 First Prize at contest between students themed “Korea”, organised by Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (Korea, 1951, oil on canvas, 43,5x54 cm, remains with the artist). 1961 First Prize at İstanbul Art Festival Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture (Red, 1959, oil on canvas, 50 x 61 cm, artwork currently lost)
  • 1962 First Prize at 23rd State Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture (Composition, 1962, oil on canvas, 130 x 195 cm, İstanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture).
  • 1973 Achievement Award at the 7th DYO Painting Contest (Metal Symmetry, 1973, oil on canvas, 100 x 120 cm, DYO Museum)
  • 1976 Second Prize at the 11th Alexandria Biennial (Five Elements, Ten Lights, 1972, oil on canvas, 140 x 160 cm, İstanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture).
  • 1981 Grand Prize in Painting at Türkiye İş Bankası
  • 1981 Grand Prizes (Hemispheres, 1976-80, oil on canvas, 91 x 125 cm, Türkiye İş Bankası Collection).
  • 1982 Grand Prize of Honour at Ev Dekorasyon Monthly
  • 1982 Grand Prizes (Awarded to an artist, selected annually for their accomplishments)
  • 1990 Friendship and Peace in Arts Prize at 3rd International Asia-Europe Arts Biennial.
  • 1994 Rejected Visual Arts Award from Sedat Simavi Foundation.