ABOUT SÜLEYMAN SAİM TEKCAN

Süleyman Saim Tekcan was born on October 6, 1940 in Trabzon. Tekcan, who received a bachelor's degree from Ankara Gazi Education Institute, Department of Art Education in 1961, went to Artvin Teacher Training School the same year as an instructor. After Artvin Teacher Training School, Tekcan, who served as reserve officer in Trabzon between 1962-63, was appointed to Erzurum Yavuz Selim Teacher Training School in 1964.

Later, Tekcan, who started working as an assistant principal at Işık High School, bid farewell to cinema after a short stint in the field after taking on one of the main roles in Metin Erksan's cult film, Time to Love. After returning to Trabzon, he started teaching at Trabzon Teacher Training School (1966-68). During this period, Tekcan founded the Gülbahar Kindergarten, the first private education institution in Trabzon. He carried out the management responsibilities of the institution until he relocated to Istanbul with his wife, Emel Tekcan.

Tekcan, who worked as an educator at Istanbul Atatürk Education Institute between 1968 and 1975, established the school’s first printmaking, lithography, serigraphy and etching studios. Tekcan was also instrumental in the realization of etching and serigraphy studios in institutions throughout Anatolia.

He established original printmaking studios at Istanbul Technical University between 1974 and 1975, and conducted relevant trainings there. Also in 1974, Tekcan established his first printmaking studio in Kuyubaşı, and became an instructor at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts between 1975 and 1976. At this institution, which was renamed the Mimar Sinan University Faculty of Fine Arts during the 1975-1976 academic year, he began to work as an instructor, while at the same time establishing a screen-printing studio in its Graphic Department. Tekcan, who moved the studio from Kuyubaşı to Söğütlüçeşme in June 1977, simultaneously started to take part in international biennials and triennials in the field of printmaking.

The foundation of recognition as one of the experts in his field both at home and internationally, was laid at this time.

Süleyman Saim Tekcan opened his new studio, the Artess Çamlıca Art House, on October 13, 1984. Artess also housed large galleries, a vast print archive, a library and a guest house. As a result of long years of technical research and experimental studies, the "wet printing" technique developed by Süleyman Saim Tekcan at the end of the 70's began to be recognized by his name in international literature during this period, and is now known as the Tekcan technique all over the world.

Tekcan, who also conducted printmaking seminars at Sarajevo Art Academy in Yugoslavia and Bilkent University in Ankara, displayed his works at a large exhibition held in Sarajevo Academy Gallery in 1987. Süleyman Saim Tekcan became a professor at the Academy in 1985 and was appointed as the Head of the Graphic Arts Department in the same year. Between 1994-1995, he served as the Dean at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Fine Arts Faculty and worked at the same time as the Head of the Graphic Department, while also ensuring the establishment of Anatolian Fine Arts High Schools during the same years. The first of those to be established was the Avni Akyol Anatolian Fine Arts High School in Erenköy. A year later, Anatolian Fine Arts High School continued to be established in Turkey, as the number of these schools has reached 80 today.

After retiring from his position as dean of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Fine Arts Faculty in 1996, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Saim Tekcan went on to establish the Yeditepe University Fine Arts Faculty in Büyükada in the same year, and served as its Founding Dean during the institution’s first academic year.

Süleyman Saim Tekcan founded IMOGA, which has one of the richest collections of all printmaking museums in the world today, in 2004. Tekcan, who was the founding dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Işık University in 2007, pioneered the 1st International Printmaking Biennial project in 2008 and served as the Chairman of the Jury. Tekcan, who decided to continue his career as an educator in a supra-institutionalist in manner in 2011, still continues his work while also serving as the Founding and Honorary Chairman of the Board of IMOGA, the Istanbul Museum of Graphic Arts.

PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Writer Article File
Semra Germaner Retrospective: Süleyman Saim Tekcan
Deniz Alaca Biography With Photographs
Kumru Sis Eren The Art Of Süleyman Saim Tekcan
Ekrem Kahraman A Revolutionary Personality Fights for Styles, Forms, Words and Ideals...
Süleyman Saim Tekcan Official CV
Bonnie Baxter Turkish Delights

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

NAME OF THE EXHIBIT PLACE CITY DATE IMAGE
The Horses, Ottoman Calligraphy and Suleymanname Şerefiye Cistern (Theodosius Cistern) Istanbul 2018
A Cyclical Odyssey Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Tophane-i Amire Istanbul 2018
Lavis IMOGA Art Space Istanbul 2017
Solo Exhibit FMV Işık Gallery Istanbul 2017
Horses and Idols Painting and Sculpture Exhibit Istanbul Kültür University Art Gallery Istanbul 2015
Solo Exhibit FMV Işık Gallery Istanbul 2015
Atnağme Etchings Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Art Gallery Sakarya 2015
Retrospective Exhibit Uludağ University Rectorate Art Gallery Bursa 2014
Atnağme Etchings Artgalerim Istanbul 2014
Solo Exhibit Platform A, Taurus Arts Center Ankara 2014
Atnağme FMV Işık Gallery Istanbul 2014
Solo Exhibit Kedi Culture and Arts Center Izmir 2013
Solo Exhibit Mabeyn Gallery Istanbul 2013
Gallery Işık Etching Exhibit Gallery Işık Istanbul 2012
50th Art Year, Retrospective Exhibit Beşiktaş Çağdaş Istanbul 2011
50th Year Exhibit FMV Işık Gallery Istanbul 2011
50th Year Exhibit Arete Art Gallery Ankara 2011
50th Year Exhibit Çırağan Palace Istanbul 2011
Solo Exhibit Ekavart Art Gallery Istanbul 2008
Printmaking Retrospective Exhibit Caddebostan Cultural Center Istanbul 2008
Solo Exhibit Almelek Art Gallery Istanbul 2008
Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center Art Gallery Exhibit Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center Art Gallery Konya 2007
Retrospective Exhibit Gazi University Painting and Sculpture Museum Ankara 2007
Solo Exhibit Turkish American Association Gallery Izmir 2007
45th Year Retrospective Exhibit İş Bankası Kibele Art Gallery Istanbul 2006
Solo Exhibit Orkun Ozan Art Gallery Antalya 2006
Solo Exhibit Bilkent University Library Directorate Art Gallery Ankara 2005
Artist Prints From The Studio Of Master Tekcan National Art Club New York 2005
Artist Prints From The Studio Of Master Tekcan Meridian Foundation Washington D.C. 2004
Bronze Horses Kare Art Gallery Istanbul 2002
Bronze Horses İzmir Vakko Art Gallery Izmir 2001
Bronze Horses Artisan Istanbul 2000
Bronze Horses Gallery Selvin Ankara 2000
White and Black Horses and Monumental Paintings Siyah Beyaz Gallery Ankara 2000
Solo Exhibit Tolga Eti Art Gallery Istanbul 1998
Solo Exhibit Siyah Beyaz Gallery Ankara 1998
Solo Exhibit Cologne Art Fair, Inge Beckermann Art Gallery Cologne 1997
Solo Exhibit Ayvalık Art Gallery Ayvalık 1997
Solo Exhibit Orkun Ozan Art Gallery Antalya 1997
Solo Exhibit Artisan Art Gallery Istanbul 1993
Solo Exhibit Armoni Art Gallery Ankara 1992
Garanti Bank Art Gallery Painting and Original Printmaking Exhibit Garanti Bank Art Gallery Istanbul 1990
“1/1” Original Printmaking Exhibit Vakko Art Gallery Istanbul and Izmir 1988
Original Printmaking and Oil Painting Exhibit Destek Art Gallery Istanbul 1987
Garanti Bank Oil Painting Exhibit Garanti Bank Art Gallery Istanbul 1984
“1/1” Original Printmaking Exhibit Vakko Art Gallery Ankara 1984