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Ahmet Yakupoğlu, a 90-year-old who was active in many fields of art until just two years ago, created thousands of paintings featuring Turkey’s natural beauty. Recently, he donated all of his works and immovable properties to Dumlupınar University in his birthplace of Kütahya. His relatives are now waiting for a museum to open in his name that will display his works of art

kaynak: GeldiK http://www.geldik.com/national-news/52732-ahmet-yakupoglus-masterpieces-to-be-displayed-in-kutahya.html

Ahmet Yakupoğlu
The heart of 90-year-old painter, flutist, illumination master, miniaturist, architect and environmentalist Ahmet Yakupoğlu is still beating for art and Kütahya, the Aegean province where he was born.
Yakupoğlu’s relatives are expecting the opening of a museum devoted to him in the very near future. The museum will host the artist’s paintings and other works featuring Turkey’s natural beauty – especially material inspired by Istanbul and Kütahya.
The artist worked actively until two years ago and now is living in İzmir. Recently, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay visited Yakupoğlu and kissed his hand.
Yakupoğlu’s adopted child and student Havva Sökmener said Yakupoğlu is one of the most significant artists in Turkey and had reached the top level in many fields of art. “Yakupoğlu is not only an artist but a ‘dervish,’” said Sökmener, adding that he might not be as popular as other artists, but that this was Yakupoğlu’s choice and part of his life philosophy.
Paintings made in nature
During his artistic life, Yakupoğlu created more than 3,000 paintings, most of which show the beauty of Kütahya, Istanbul, Bursa and Konya.
Sökmener said the artist had a unique work discipline, adding that he started working everyday at 8 a.m. and walked to the places he wanted to paint.
Yakupoğlu worked the entire day, eating only one slice of bread, she said, adding that once he ate a whole meal before going out to paint but returned later without having done anything because it was difficult for him to paint on a full stomach.
Biggest contribution to his birthplace
As well as thousands of paintings featuring the nature of his birthplace Kütahya, Yakupoğlu graced the city with his own architectural design for the Çinili Mosque, worked to establish a university there, played the leading role in the establishment of the city’s museum and library and worked as the museum director for many years.
During his time in Kütahya, Yakupoğu also played a leading role in the restoration of many historical works and trained flute players in the city.
An individual also in love with green and nature, his other mission was to plant pine trees on his 7,000-square-meter garden. Yakupoğlu also persuaded residents of nearby villages to make the region greener and thanks to him the province of Kütahya now has a 70,000-hectare pine tree forest.
Donated all his artifacts
Announcing plans to leave all his assets to Kütahya, Yakupoğlu dissolved the foundation established in his name and donated his mosque, house, other immovable properties, 3,000 books on art, as well as more than 1,500 paintings, illuminations and miniatures to the province’s Dumlupınar University.
Even though his possessions can be taken out of the province for temporary exhibitions, Yakupoğlu requested that his works remain permanently in Kütahya. He was also promised by the university administration that a museum would be established to exhibit his myriad works.
Sökmener said everyone aware of the importance of his works hopes the museum is established as soon as possible.
“He closed the foundation and donated all his immovable properties, his library and his artifacts to the university. The main goal here was to preserve these works and make it easier for people to access them,” she said.
According to Sökmener, the artist’s house is not suitable for the exhibition of his works, adding that the materials need to be specially preserved because they are not of high quality. “They should be preserved in places with temperature and humidity control. We expect a modern museum to be established to display these works,” she said.
“Everyone wishes that Yakupoğlu could cut the ribbon for the opening of the museum himself. This museum will be definitely established sooner or later but we wish that he could see it,” Sökmener said.
Yakuploğlu, who could only speak to the Anatolian news agency for a short time because of health problems, said he had painted much natural beauty in Turkey and that especially Kütahya and Istanbul were very important to him.
kaynak: GeldiK http://www.geldik.com/showthread.php?t=52732
He said he went to different places to make paintings for many years, spending his time making illuminations and miniatures at night when he could not venture out due to adverse weather conditions.
He said he had hosted many guests who wanted to listen to his flute performances and trained hundreds of students in various fields. “They still come to hear my opinion. I am still their teacher,” he said.

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