Pehlivan

Turkish oil wrestling shaped my childhood and youth. My father, too, practised the sport as a young man. Through my paintings, I hope to capture something of the spirit of this centuries-old tradition.

The path to becoming a Pehlivan often began in childhood, under the care of an experienced master. Alongside the art of wrestling, the master passed on the values and way of life of the community. For aspiring professional wrestlers, this was also preparation for a life in which they would have to earn their living through competition.

For me, an enduring ideal of the warrior and hero lives on in this tradition, sustained by respect, care and an almost brotherly bond. The Pehlivan seem to me like gladiators from another age: belonging to a community, yet obliged to face one another as opponents. This closeness between combative strength and human warmth moves me.