Turkish photographer serves as Latin America’s volunteer art ambassador

In the middle of Istanbul, a Turkish photographer with a passion for Cuban art has created a gallery as a gathering place for Latin American artists and Turkish art lovers. Its name is Artane.

The owner of Artane, Sevil Sert, is a fan of Cuban artists who work with wasted materials, plastic bags or used coffee for the purpose of paint because of their difficult situations. After building a successful career in photography in Istanbul, Sert left everything behind to move to Cuba and lived there for 10 years. When she returned, she aimed at promoting her works that she had created while living on the Carribean island.

“I don’t earn too much money but a gallery should have a unique, different concept. And also, Turkey should know Latin American artists,” said Sert, and spoke about the reasons why she moved to Cuba when she had a career in Turkey, Cuban artists and Turks’ relations with them.

Sert, 53, grew up in a free-spirited and amusing family in Ankara. Just like her siblings, she grew up as a free-spirited person. After having graduated from Ankara College, she chose to study zoology because of her love for animals. But as soon as she learned that she had to cut and examine them, she left the school. It was the middle of 1970s and her family sent her to London because of Turkey’s complicated political environment. This was the turning point in Sert’s life.

She started studying sociology in London but the department did not satisfy her. She was looking for something different. “I tried to find a fast and different way to earn money. Advertising photography was very popular in England at that time. Universities began offering courses in it. Ability and portfolio were required for talks. I was among 400 people for talks. I explained to jury members how I wanted to study there and learn everything. I could not believe my eyes when I got the letter of acceptance two months later,” she said.

She left at the peak of her career

Sert graduated from a four-year education with a first degree. Philip Pace, one of the significant food photographers at the time, chose her as his assistant when she opened her graduation exhibition. She worked for him for four years and began doing her own work. She was traveling to Turkey at the same time and tried some businesses. When she got many business proposals, she decided to stay. Her relationship with famous actor Kenan Kalav was another reason for her stay.

In 1986 she opened her studio in Istanbul’s Cihangir neighborhood. She was taking photos of factories, lighters, fountain pens, and carpets. Later, she worked as a food and fashion photographer. She was taking photos for big magazines and billboards and became very successful.

She continued working like this for a long time, but she took the step that changed her life when she asked the following question to her: “Will I not be able to live another life?” Since she was not an ambitious person, she went to Cuba.

Music player, CD and olive paste

Sert has been interested in Latin America because of jazz music that she listened to in her childhood. During her time in London at the age of 18, she also traveled to Venezuela with her friends. She was very affected by hospitality of the people and the way they enjoy life and so she chose Latin America when she decided to change her life.

“I visited many countries in Latin America but not Cuba. Because getting a visa was hard, it was a closed country. Latin Americans loved Cuba too much. That is why I decided to go there. Cuba was the place where music was born. I did not make any preparation, just bough flight ticket. Even my luggage was too small. I only had music player, CDs and boxes of olive puree.”

Sert did not even make a hotel reservation. She settled in a room rented from a restaurant. She started working on music in the country. She prepared culture programs for an American website. She was sending 20-minute digital films of newly released bands that she liked. She earned a good living in Cuba. Meanwhile, she shared a house with a family in order to be closer to Cubans.

“The Japanese are very interested in Cuban music. Production companies were releasing albums for bands in Cuba. I took the album cover photo for them. As time passed, my name began to be heard and started taking advertising photos for a French company. Thanks to these works, I interviewed with many musicians. Now I have a 1,000-hour archive, enough to make a documentary,” Sert said.

Sert has met most of the artists, whose works are on display in her gallery now, thanks to these works. She prepared their catalogues. What she did was very effective on her. “When they had no money, they were using everything. Among these materials were plastic bags, wasted metal, fluorescent lighting, old fridges and other junk. They were using coffee when they could not find paint. I was really affected by their creativity. For example, one day Fidel Castro found a cheap fridge in China and brought it to Cuba. All the old fridges were given to artists to make sculptures. The result was magnificent. The state protects artists. Each of them graduates from an art school or other higher education study. They do very good work thanks to it.”

‘Interest of collectors is necessary’

Sert spent 10 years in Cuba. She wanted to transfer her experiences and promote Cuban artists to Turks. She turned her studio in Cihangir into a gallery. She opened her first exhibition in 1986. She brought some of the works with her when she returned to Turkey and some were sent by her friends there.

Her first three exhibitions drew great interest. “I made many friends when I was working in advertising. None of them left me alone. I sold all the paintings. But later on, people lost interest. Friends do not buy paintings again after they bought a few. It is important to draw collectors to the gallery. But of course it will take at least five years. I will continue to do so since I love this job and want to promote Cuban artists to Turkish collectors. I spend my savings, and the gallery stands on its own feet. This is enough for now.”

Artane currently hosts an interesting exhibition: “Animalities.” This is a solo exhibition by Argentinean photographer Juan Erlich. By manipulating animals’ natural habitat and forms, Erlich creates fresh, vibrant transformations and unveils a possible fantasy world with an astonishing harmony. The exhibition will remain open through March 27. The next guest at Artane will be famous director David Lynch, who is known for his art works.

Artane: Sanatkarlar Cad. Balaban Bey Çıkmazı, Uzay Apt. No.1, Cihangir