Summary of "The Turkish blind painter, Esref Armagan | Al Jazeera World Documentary"
Summary of Artistic Techniques, Concepts, and Creative Processes in the Video
Artist Background and Motivation:
- Eşref Armağan is a Turkish painter who has been visually impaired from birth.
- Despite never having seen images, he developed a strong desire to learn about and represent the world through painting.
- His motivation comes from a deep curiosity and a wish to understand and depict his surroundings in detail.
- He emphasizes learning through touch and other senses, compensating for his lack of sight.
Creative Process and Techniques:
Learning to Paint Blind:
- Eşref began by using tactile methods, such as placing newspapers under cardboard and using nails to create embossed shapes he could feel.
- His father helped by carving a butterfly shape into a board, which Eşref used as a tactile model.
- He memorized colors by placing them in a fixed order on a palette, so he could consistently identify and use them without confusion.
Use of Touch and Memory:
- Eşref relies heavily on tactile feedback and memory to create his paintings.
- He uses his fingertips to "see" shapes and textures, translating these into painted forms.
- He does not paint abstractly initially; he prefers concrete, recognizable images before attempting abstraction.
Perspective and Dimension:
- Without formal art education, Eşref struggled with concepts like perspective.
- A teacher at Marmara University introduced him to perspective using tactile aids and explanations about roads and lines.
- He learned to incorporate dimension and perspective into his paintings through self-study and limited guidance.
Painting Technique:
- Eşref paints primarily with his fingers rather than brushes.
- He developed a method of applying Quilt thread lines on Canvas to guide his painting without drawing lines.
- He paints section by section, allowing areas to dry before moving on, to avoid smudging.
- His palette includes main colors: black, white, yellow, brown, red, blue, and green.
Artistic Style:
- His paintings often combine figurative and abstract elements.
- He calls his style "Özgür Resim" (Free Painting), reflecting his emotional and tactile approach.
- His works show an intuitive use of light and shadow despite his blindness.
- He paints scenes such as butterflies, landscapes, and figures (e.g., a girl playing piano under a projector light).
Teaching and Outreach:
- Eşref is passionate about teaching visually impaired children to understand and create art through touch.
- He believes that tactile learning can help blind children "see" their world and express it artistically.
- He organizes workshops where children learn to recognize shapes, colors, and textures through guided tactile painting exercises.
Challenges and Personal Life:
- Eşref faced skepticism and disbelief from others about his ability to paint realistically without sight.
- He lost his father to cancer, which was a difficult emotional period.
- Despite health challenges, he continues to paint and inspire others.
- He has exhibited his works internationally and received recognition for his unique abilities.
Key Steps, Materials, and Advice from the Video
Materials:
- Cardboard, nails (for tactile models)
- Newspapers (to create embossed textures)
- Palette with fixed color order (black, white, yellow, brown, red, blue, green)
- Quilt thread (to create tactile lines on Canvas)
- Canvas and Finger paints
Steps in Learning and Painting:
- Use tactile models to understand shapes (e.g., butterfly carved by father).
- Memorize color placement on palette to avoid confusion.
- Paint with fingers, section by section, allowing drying time.
- Use thread lines to guide painting without drawn lines.
- Learn perspective through tactile explanations and self-study.
- Start with concrete images before attempting abstraction.
- Teach and encourage visually impaired children to explore art through touch.
Advice:
- Trust your senses other than sight to perceive the world.
- Persistence and motivation are key to overcoming challenges.
- Art can be a way to "see" the world with the heart and mind, not just the eyes.
- Encourage tactile learning and exploration for blind artists and students.
- Do not fear limitations; use them as unique strengths in creativity.
Creators and Contributors Featured
- Eşref Armağan – The visually impaired Turkish painter and main subject of the documentary.
- Eşref’s Father – Supported and helped Eşref by creating tactile models and encouraging him.
- Art Teacher at Marmara University – Provided guidance on perspective and artistic techniques.
- Nilüfer – A friend and supporter who discusses Eşref’s unique perspective and style.
- Visually Impaired Children and Workshop Participants – Featured in scenes learning to paint through touch.
- Zoner Öncel – Mentioned as a person giving lessons to visually impaired artists.
Category
Art and Creativity
