Fotoritim eBook Ali Balki 1 by Levent Yildiz

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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Fotoritim e-Books of Photography No:2 Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible Book 1 Text and Photography: Ali Balkı Cover: Vildan Dürüst Interview with Ali Balkı: Atakan Dürüst Editor : Berna Akcan Translation : Sümeyye Eroğlu

This e-Book is consisted of Ali Balkı's articles which were published in Fotoritim e-Magazine of Photography between October 2008 - June 2009

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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CONTENTS: THE ROOMS A PHOTOGRAPH CAN SAVE THE WORLD FOR A BRAVE WORLD – ANGELS, CLOUDS AND HUMAN RODIN, PALM TREE AND WOMAN STAIRS BRINGS US UP LET'S WASH OUR SOULS ON A PLUM TREE THE SECRET OF LIGHT IS LOVE LIFE IS HOPE WHITE WIND INTERVIEW WITH ALİ BALKI BIOGRAPHY

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 1 Rooms Dear Art and Photography lovers; Every month we will have a beautiful journey with you in this column. I invite you to look through the window which I live with my photographs and write my intuitions. I want to share my feelings in which I create my photography. I think the parts which we cannot see are much more important than the parts which we can see in photographs. We will look at the Power of the Invisible from a different angle in this column. Without leaving Sincerity, Love and Intuition... Without forgetting the most important mission of the art is to make people fly to new horizons and new viewpoints. A quotation from Philosopher Serres affects me deeply 'Only beauty can save us'. That beauty can be derived from a pain, a suffering, a smile or a moment. The only thing we should do is to look at life from a different point of view which is different from the stereotyped ones which we were always taught. Photographer is the one who leaves traces with a different point of view. Photography likes to touch upon the hearts and the ideas. Sometimes it provokes you to discover your inner side, sometimes it soothes you. It becomes a friend, a human. The power of the invisible returns back to your hand again. Maybe that power is the one which will save you... Maybe we demolish walls which cannot be demolished Maybe we whiten the darkened hearts Maybe we open the blind eyes But you should know that our words are not from knowing too much, they are from heart. Best wishes,

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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The Rooms

Ali Balkı – 2008

Life is like the rooms. The Rooms which open from one to another, the rooms in which new worlds are built. The most beautiful rooms are the ones whose lights are lit. In a room without light, hearts are like in prison. Our lives pass by entering from one to another just like the rooms. All of us have enthusiasms which we work hard and struggle in our lives. These enthusiasms starts with childhood. Every new age, every experience opens like room in our lives. As we enter a new room, we wish for a more illumined room. As if when we enter a room, a new room to be reached appears behind the wall, it calls us to discover. The rooms of this life never ends. Light is the secret of it It waits us to head towards itself just like butterflies... It is impossible to stop these hearts which head towards to light and the new rooms.

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Dreams and goals of human being does not end, so do rooms which they will pass. It is the nature of it... If you fall in love with light and if you get used to pass obstacles; any of the thick walls can hold you back... To exceed the life becomes a habit for you! The explorer inside of you gives you the power if you open yourself to it. From now on the key which opens every door is in your heart. If you fall in love with light and rebirth once, you become immortal in the rooms. You know there is no room that cannot be passed with your strong determination. You become exuberant, become human, becme love, become a new life as you pass the rooms. The rooms and the people always exist as long as we have a love factory inside of us. Fotoritim October 2008

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 2 A Photograph Can Save the World Hello my dear friends, I would like to start my article by thanking Photography for teaching us. Photography which opens us the way of maturity and sharing with people says that another world can be established. Who knows? Maybe a photograph can save the world. Maybe the photographs which carry our voice, our heart beats, our pains, our excitements and our happiness are the ones which will save us from the darkness. The photographer who is behind his own words knows that his words are to be in life with our hearts. He is always on journeys by searching for himself and the others. People can see the truth with their hearts and experience the divinity of recreation by light. How beautiful it is to write with light with this knowledge. Actually photography is the dace of our heart with the light. It knows that a better world is possible. It calls us to realize the worth of the beauties which are on our hands. Dancing with light Writing with light Creates lights. The only cure for the ones who are without a light Is the light in our hearts Light shines with light The kiss which I send you Is Carried with love Thank you my photograph My most loyal friend I know that a better world is possible now With you...

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THE SWAN IN MY DREAMS

The Swan In My Dreams

Ali Balkı - 1994

Isn't it our greatest desire is to see a swan in clean, calm and peaceful waters with its whiteness, quietness, dignity and aesthetics? Isn't to harmonize with life like a swan the one which will save us from all of our heart pains. We should find calm waters to live together with nature by turning our face to it, by remembering our harmonious brotherhood shared for thousands of years. Let the brotherhood between the human and the swan in these waters enlightens the future world as the biggest friendship of the old world. Let the friendship between the human and the swan become the photograph of our future, and the boat which stays calmly in the seaside is its witness. Her Hakkı Saklıdır

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THE INQUIRY INSIDE OF US

The Inquiry Insıde of Us

Ali Balkı - 1993

Is it possible to live without having an inquiry inside of us? Why are you here? Why are you you? Why? Why? You need to touch yourself in order to face yourself. Without any prejudice in a pure and honest way. How beautiful it is to agitate in order to find the god inside of you by listening your inner voice. It is not possible to know how you will face this inquiry. Sometimes you can find yourself in a quiet port, calm sea, lonely lighthouse or a boat... All of them helps you to find the deadlock inside of you. One day the redness of the sunset brings you to the deepest side of the inquiry. We tried to find our new hopes, new wraths, new emotions in a window opened between the birth and the death. Sometimes we took the world as eternal By ignoring love and the everything inside of us Fotoritim November 2008

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 3 For A Brave World – The Angels, The Clouds and Human Even If No One Comes With Me, I Will Go… Recently we are trying to live with changing social dynamics, political conjunctures, and the destructive news caused by the change created by the global economy. We live in a period which we think about how to consume the world resources instead of thinking ' how to save the world'. As a result I can say that at the beginning of the 21st century we lack the producer culture traits and show the consumer culture characteristics. I think that we should take an action immediately, there is no time to deceive ourselves. I do not want to accept that we are in deadlock. I can say that the responsibility is on everyone's shoulders. There is a need for an ethical standing point. I also want to state that our hope for the future starts inside of us and mostly dies there, realistically I can say that but I never have to accept this. The responsibilities of the artist becomes much more important in this context. The art which is trying to bring a new point of view in a period of time which we are led by ready made information, keeps finding the harmony and the disagreement. It is parallel with the thoughts of Umberto Eco who says that intellectual function is an ethical choice. Famous 20th century philosopher Eco gives an example of a surgeon who accepts the gravity situation after the operation when he realizes that there is nothing he can do. He highlights that this is an ethical approach. In this context, photography will continue to fulfill its ethical responsibility by showing the reality bravely and by trying to find the light of hope which will be the solution for every kind of disagreement. For the photographer the wish to see and transcendent is like first spark of fire. As brave as to say ' I will go even if no one comes with me'. How about you...

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FOR A BRAVE WORLD

For a Brave World

Ali Balkı - 2004

WITH WHITE WILL COME THE HAPPINESS WITH A WHITE CLOUD WHITES WILL HAVE A WEDDING NIGHT, WHEN THE WHITE MOON APPEARS. A WHITE WIND WILL BLOW, WHERE WE MISS THE WHITE THE MOST. WITH WHITE WINGS WILL BRING THE PEACE, A WHITE ANGEL, WITH THE WISH FOR A WHITE WORLD

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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THE ANGELS, THE CLOUDS AND HUMAN

The Angels, The Clouds and Human

Ali Balkı - 2004

Clouds, They were the first holders of the world. They experienced the world in every era. Freedom was always its fundamental. An awesome explorer. It is always surprise where will it stay for the night. Sometimes over the top of high mountains, sometimes over the plateau, sometimes on the water drops on the leaves, sometimes at the hearth of mother nature...

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If you wish you can meet them with your heart and hair while you are walking under the rain. The angels inside them makes them fly, the eternal partnership... Sometimes they become black and gray as if they were angry at the wars which destroys the humankind, cultures and the nature. Why they are that much determined? Maybe they want to show that the light comes after the twilight. s they are the silhouettes of the rebirth by their eternity and ability to change shape and size so fast. Angels are as if they promised to be friends forever. Clouds which make people inspired with great feeling and ideas have always had something to tell us. Lets try to understand and feel what the travel mates of clouds, angels, say. They existed before you, and decided to stay with you. If you want to keep traveling with them, just decide to find the angel in your heart. To become a happier planet. Fotoritim December 2008

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 4 Rodin, Palm Tree and Woman After 1900, people who visited Rodin's workshop were quite amazed with the small sculptures surrounds them. Rodin is remembered as a productive artist. He is famous for his productivity and the crowded number of his sculptures which he calls 'my people'. Rodin was breaking apart his sculptures in order to create new ones. The ones who know his works also know his anatomy gallery which was full of hundreds of sketches and pieces. His workshop was full of with paralyzed hands, frozen movements, masks and busts. Rodin was always producing, combining, cutting into parts and bringing together. He became a master in human anatomy after long years of discipline and hard work. Most of Rodin’s work was created by bringing together the old ones which were created during another study in another time. “I look and try to cut into parts and combine again' says he 'like a tailor who makes fitting. And I have been doing it for 20 years.' Rodin’s combinations are the forerunners of the montage and installation art.

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Rodin, Palm Tree and Woman

Ali Balkı - 2007

In 2006, the photograph which I took in Rodin exhibition in the Museum of Sakıp Sabancı affected me deeply to be interested in new studies. The thing which I was witnessing was the resurrection of the human anatomy with new points of view. The exhibition of Rodin which I missed in Paris came to Istanbul. When I was taking photographs in the museum, I was turning like a Mevlevi who is trying to capture these masterpieces from the best possible angle. I remember that I lost myself so much that I even risked to be dismissed from the museum. Anyway, I succeeded to leave the museum without being a Rodin victim by listening the warnings which are made for me. I bow before these masterpieces for being the inspiration for my new works. These masterpieces which exalt the emotions so much, and capture your hearts can only be created by an artist who loves his job.

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I was sharing the same techniques and the emotions with Rodin for years, and I tried to create different images of different moments and lives. I should confess that these shared emotions excites me to feel great master Rodin closely. “Some pauses and memories forms a new whole from fragments.' Storiesinterrogates inharmoniousness with harmony, similarities with differences. Isn't what we are living is to cut into parts and combine as Rodin says? Doesn't every fragment of life search for the other? Doesn't life redesigns everything as if it wants to feel the pride of being eternal? Isn't this life is a stage which learns and teaches? In this stage, art which knows the difference is richness talks from the lips of human being. Sometimes in a sculpture, sometimes in a photograph, sometimes in a painting. The wisdom of the moments, the mysticism of the light maybe creates a new song about a palm tree leaf or a woman. Then stand at a corner, and watches its work of art with the pleasure of having same values. It was a palm tree leaf which makes you ask the questions, or maybe a woman Isn't it life which silently blends the little fragments by knowing that they are the unchangeable parts of the whole. Isn't it the place where we use up our bodies and melodies where we live our loves, exuberances and soreness Isn't it LIFE way which we passed without appreciating the value of the moments which shape us. In memory of Augusto Rodin; Source of information: Sakıp Sabancı University and Museum Rodin library. Work in the Photograph; Torse d´Adele, ca. 1882. Yeso, 13,3 x 44,6 x 18,9 cm.

Fotoritim January 2009

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 5 Stairs Bring Us Up Recently we are having hard times; The economic picture which is derived from consumption, extravagance and lack of inspection rises like a wall before us. Today we are living in a neo liberal world which does not value human as much as the capital interests. We are facing a different problem everyday because of materialization of all kinds of social relations. One of the most problem is to live a monotonous life. Monotonous life does not let the life and the art flourish and kills the hope for a new and thought oriented world. the need for expressing oneself is the most important desire in the context of social participation. One of the most important form of human expression is art. The expression created by art affects people in a humanist and creative way. The societies which grasp the modern humanism shall rise with art will be the real inheritors of tomorrow. Today there is a need for an effective art movement which will argue that the human should be in the center of life.

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Stairs Bring Us Up-1

Ali Balkı - 2007

I think today the social and psychological conditions are quite similar with 1916 which Dadaism has emerged. I mean the similarity is not in the content but in the expression of reaction. (Dadaism, was a stand against the established social order. Dadaism is a movement which argues that we should leave the established order and logical rules, so we can discover some realities which cannot be reached till that day. ) Today we can observe the harmful results of harsh realities. If the art movements get an enough acceleration, they can raise many psychological, ecologic and sociological questions. I think the approach of Dadaism should be updated in a new perspective. The human who is casted out from the life should assess today and should climb the stairs one by one in order to go on his way.

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In this way, his most important assistant is the art which helps him to express his heart. The shocks which we are experiencing can be the first steps of the process. I hope art does not ignore the most important problems of the age and continues to be the explorer of the social life. Artists are influenced by the spirit of the age and creates their artwork. If we consider the foresights and worries of the artist, we can establish a peaceful world. As long as art exist to be the milestone of the societies we shall not forget that hope, justice, freedom and being human is much more important than everything.

Stairs Bring Us Up-2

Ali Balkı -2007

Today the way is more important than the destination. Believing is the first step of desire. I think these words explaining my ideas in a best way. “A limp ant wants to go to the other end of the world. Other ain’t say 'it is impossible, you cannot go on with this limp leg'. And the ant says ' it doesn't matter, I die trying.’”

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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Stairs bring us up. We need to listen our heart's voice. That voice is inside of you. That voice comes to life with the art inside of you. Every step makes you stronger. Our story always keen on exceeding. Humanity will eradicate the poison of human, They are marching with their armies It is obvious.

Work in the Photograph: Sculptor Kemal Önsoy’s “Come, cry with my eyes”

Fotoritim February 2009

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 6 Let's Wash Our Souls In a Plum Tree Concrete rooms are coming over me with their black eyeglasses as if they haven't listened my stories about the sky. They are erasing my memories, my past as if I have never experienced them. They want me to be harsh and cold like them. They ignore all the creatures of the nature. They forget that the ground which they were built is the owner of the place. I do not remember the plum tree, the plateau which I was running in my childhood, the birds which I fed, the wall between you and me rises everyday. I feel the pain of remorse as the man who digs his own grave, I search the breeze of a hope. Concrete windows are coming over me with their black eyeglasses. And a question echoes in my mind. I am surprised with the underdevelopment of the human being in the face of technological advancements. A little sparkle of hope waits me with loyalty, maybe I can give it a chance. A paper cries 'common pass over me' as if it is as white as a new beginning. Hope is waiting for me. Maybe I climb on a plum tree again if you play with me.

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The Last Castle

Ali Balkı - 2008

Let's wash our souls In the beautiful songs of the birds. In a red autumn breeze. In the strawberry color of your lips. Let's wash our souls To turn thirst into fertility Hatred to love Ignorance to knowledge. Let's wash our souls To born into a pure world Let's wash our souls Even if I cannot be born, this universe, this plum tree is inside every one of us. In memory of Tatanga Mani (Walking Bull) and Geronimo Sculpture in the photograph: Auguste Rodin “Hands”. TWO WORDS ABOUT THE INDIANS AND THE NATURE; "Tatanga Mani" or 'walking bull', who was born in 1871, is a Stoney Indian who tried to understand the nature in his entire life. When he gets old, he is offered a world travel by Canadian government as the representative of the Indians. When he was 87 he gave a speech about the relationship between the Indians and Great Soul: "You know, mountains are always much more beautiful than the stone buildings. The life in city is an artificial life form. There, most of the people cannot feel the soil under their feet, they cannot see the plants grow, cannot escape from the city lights far enough to see the beauty of the stars. People can easily forget the rules of the Great Soul when we live far from his creation. We used to get on well with the creator of the everything, Great Soul. Her Hakkı Saklıdır

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You white people thought that we were savages. You did not understand and try to understand our friends. While we are composing songs for the sun, moon or the wind, you thought that we were pagans. You described us as lost souls without understanding just because our ways of worship were different than yours. We used to see the creation of Great Soul in everything, sun, moon, trees, breeze, mountains. Sometimes we used to get closer to him by those means. Was this very bad? I think we were much more loyal to Great Soul than the whites who call us pagans. Indians who live close to the nature and its creator are not in darkness. Do you know that trees can talk? Yes, they can talk. Talk to each other. If you listen they shall talk to you as well. Th e problem is that the whites does not listen. They have never learned to listen the Indians, so I do not think they can ever learn to listen the other sounds in the nature. Whereas I learned many things from the trees about the weather, animals and Great Soul." Six Nation Iroquois Confederation spokesman Oren Lyons (Onondaga) says that their most important law is the Law of Nature. Lyons' words shows that today's Indians still carry out the same things with their ancestors: "the Law of Nature is high above than the human rules. Criminals are on the hands of advocates and judges, and most of the time they can be free even if they are guilty. But the Law of Nature is different. If you disobey the Law of Nature you really get punished. One of the Law of Nature is to keep everything clean, especially water. If you destroy the water, you destroy the life. Everybody knows that. All the living creatures over the ground depend on the water, but still we keep poisoning it with every kind of dirt. Your law can say OK, but it is not OK. The Law of Nature does not care about human laws. You cant play with the Law of Nature. If you destroy the water you destroy the life, including yours. This is the Law of Nature. Another law of nature is that all lives are equal. This is our philosophy. You need to respect life, all lives, not just yours. If you do not respect soil, you shall lose it. Sometimes humankind thinks he is the boss, but he is not. He is just one part of the whole. Human has responsibilities, not power." Today's Indians are not different from their ancestors in their philosophies and their knowledge of the nature. Because of this reason scientists often consult to Indians about environmental issues. The environmental report which was prepared by the United Nations sums up Indians' relationship with the nature: "ıf you want to know anything about the nature, ask Indians." GERONİMO

Fotoritim March 2009

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 7 The Secret of Light is Love

To Dali “The Secret of Light is Love”

Ali Balkı, 2009

The long waited guest of the night, the reason brightens the morning, creates life with its warmness, the owner of the rainbow, maker of the attractive red, the owner of my eyes... If light hadn't existed... How would I notice myself and you inside of me. The life was always constructed on 'you' and 'me'. If light hadn't existed, I wouldn't have existed, you wouldn't have existed, and love wouldn't have existed. How would have love existed if there was no light?

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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The smell of love drives me crazy in this spring again. I let my frozen heart to spring ways. My dream was you, maybe this time you would stand in front of me. How could I see the color of your eyes without light? ıt is the same reason which makes siege in Troy, makes Ferhat drill the mountains. Reaching you is like reaching God. I am coming to your knees turning like a Mevlevi, following the light. there is something strange in my heart. I am an addict of light from now. I know the light is preparing the morning which will bring me to you. Light is like examining my aspiration. Light and love know each other. Tracing with patience. the more you love the more the light brightens. I know that the secret of the light is love. Eternal and inexhaustible. As if the path followed by immigrant birds are calling me. Maybe they are my guide to reach you. Asking for the secrets of life this spring. I shall grow up on the roads with your nostalgia. Light is the reason for reaching you. Like night reaches to dawn, My love reaches to yours. Dragged by breezes. I am a butterfly In a spring branch in love with the light The time passed I know, My Friends, The secret of light is love its wish is to love to love to love forever... Work in the photograph Salvador Dali.

Fotoritim April 2009

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 8 Life is Hope

Life is Hope

Ali Balkı - 2007

Like a bus stop. Like a berth you sit on one end, full of stories. For some it is like a deserted island where you wait all alone, silent but also laud. Like a song on thousands of memories and hope... Waiting is not easy. But if you have hope how exuberant is life! Hopes which does not leave you alone are like waiting in the corner to appear suddenly. Hope comes with patience and patience comes with hope. You can stand up with your enthusiasm if you have hope. Waiting becomes more bearable with hope. Who knows, maybe a wet stone road, which I look at without blinking, is the one which will bring my hope? Who knows? Her Hakkı Saklıdır

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It will come with the rain and it will go with the same rain again. I wish you to have somewhere to wait for your hopes in your life. And a road to walk on. A road which hosted many. Look closely, I guess you will see. Lovers, poets, lunatics... All of them left some traces in this wet, melancholic paved road. They all melted like a rain drop. They passed from this road with a white cloud to rain again and again. Then they become again me and you, waited in the corners. They told you to have a thousands of windows turned to new roads, new trees or an old plane. they became a poem about hope, love, patience and you in this melancholic paved road. They lived the beauty of being human with intoxication and pride. They continued even if they were hurt. They washed all the wickedness made by mankind with the rains of love. It is not possible not to believe in the hope which is waiting in the end of the road. This road is an example to whom set off for love, for nice people. To whom asks 'what is life?' they moved on in this thin rainy paved road with love in their pockets. They came with the rain, have gone with the rain. They all became a drop on the plane tree in the garden. I was like knowing one of them. Yes, it was Nazım. My eye drops, which was a lecture for the ones who says “What is life?”, passed as if they were saying 'let's not forget the hope'. They have gone with the rain They will come back with the bounteous rain. Fotoritim May 2009

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Ali Balkı : The Power of the Invisible 9 White Wind

White Wind

Ali Balkı - 2002

“The Awareness of The Mountain of Wisdom is Eternal” The Goddess of moon, Hecate, is the one who teaches wisdom to people in moonless nights. It is possible that people built her sculptures on the crossroads because she help travelers to find the way. And the god of sun Helios is known to be her ancestor. The white wind; In recent years I have been traveling with an awareness in my note case. I have experienced this after a soothing process of understanding and then the sense of discovery. How could I know that this was the wisdom which flames my fire. The wisdom of awareness was the mentor and I was the pupil. Then I always wanted to have discomfort which sparkle questions in my mind instead of soporific knowledge. Once I asked the wise man out of flames 'where did I get this for the first time'. I saw that flame of awareness came with a wind inside of a mist in a deep forest at the top of a mountain. I remembered it in the heavy rain which meets with a wild river. That splashes and the groans inside of it never get out of my mind. How could I hear the same sound with such diversity? How could I feel the same with melody with such different tunes? Her Hakkı Saklıdır

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That white wind never made me afraid, and so did the endless trees, bees which stung me. The nature and the human became friend in these mountains. These mountains are he shores of the sea of awareness. These groans are the friends of my inner sight. These mountains ant the forests stays straight with the wisdom of making aware of the awareness.

1995, At the top of Kaçkar, Ali Balkı

Each hill brings a new awareness. I have lost in a white wind with passion, maybe I can reach another hill or another world... How could I know that a mist is the way to reach wisdom? Each splash was to discover the heaven once again. The mist and the River of Storm were the keys of heaven for me, which I will never forget. They carried me to the awareness of the sea of knowledge. Now I understood that the same sound can turn in to a symphony, I understood how to listen a repeating melody of an eternal song! I have been lost in a mist. On the skirts of a huge mountain, in the blue of “Storm”. I became a red winged fish in its creeks. I have been lost in the splashes of the creek, on the skirts of the mountain of wise. I have became seer when I was blind I have became cone in a huge pine tree In the each visit of the light. I have given myself to breezes of this valley, For giving us the flame of awareness. Her Hakkı Saklıdır

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To be lost need to be sincere in this mountains. To be reborn and eternal. In a bee wing or in the freckles of a fish. I have lost in a mist. On the skirts of a mountain. I have dragged in the white winds. I found us in the sea of the wisdom. You and me, we were trees. On the skirts of Kaçkar Mountain. In the memory of the most beautiful mountain and the white wind. Fotoritim June 2009

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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Interview with Ali Balkı Who is Ali Balkı ? Could you please talk about yourself? While talking about myself I would like to depend on your sincerity. I think that I am a designer regarding my academic education. A visual designer who aims to make people look at the world from a different angle. Actually we can say a voluntary photograph designer. My main interest is photography in my designs. You can define as design volunteer with the excitement of having a small pebble in the development of humankind I think all kinds of art is the key which will save us from the all the sufferings in the world. Art has a power to replenish and free us. Art is the teacher of the mankind other than the aesthetics. And I am a student who tries to be free from all kinds of conditioning. How did you meet with photography? There are genetic factors and social factors in our lives. My interest for photography derived from both of them. I have photographers in my family. Maybe one of the first woman photographers of Turkey, Sultan Balkı, is my grandmother. In 1940 she was trying to earn her living with photography in Afyon, as a woman from Istanbul. When my grandfather had passed away she had to take over the atelier. Later on she taught his son, my father, the job. My father did not carry on the photography but I have the genes, I guess. I believe in cornerstones in my life. In my childhood I had an old camera among my toys. It was an old and broken camera. It was not repairable that my father gave it to me. I played with it so often that it had a great impact on me. I still feel the smell of its leather box. Later on I became interested in journalism in my university years. I was a amateur reporter for Hürriyet. I needed to have good quality images with my news. The year was 1979. I tried to carry on with my friend's camera. My father noticed the enthusiasm in me and decided to buy me a working camera. He bought a second hand machine from a tourist and gave me as a gift. This was the turning point for my life. There are many crossing points. Isn't life like that? Memories come together and build a life. I should mention the contributions of my first professor of photography Mehmet Bayhan, in the Academy of Fine Arts in 1978 and the camera, which was a birthday present, given in the first years of my marriage by my wife. I guess this is the importance of the memories. What were you doing for Hürriyet in that years? University years are quite early for such a serious job I had a great interest in journalism in those years. I was totally amateur and totally free. When I saw the notice about freelance reporters, I immediately applied to the newspaper. They told me that I have to make my own news with my own observations and photographs. I used walk around Istanbul, listen to people, take photos and make news about them. It was quite nice to report good news like first Modern Kadıköy wharf (1980), the construction of Incirli Bridges (1979). I make news about the storehouses in Sirkeci which creates a traffic jam and I created public opinion to move them to outside of the city. If my superiors liked they used to publish my visual news. It was a great pleasure to Her Hakkı Saklıdır

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

Fotoritim e-Books

make news and take photographs about people's problems. I got very much from the streets at that time. Because it is not possible for a photographer to be developed inside the house. It was quite important for me to be in the streets and in the life. Those days had a great impact on my current photography. It opened many ways for me and also humanity. You have many articles in Fotoritim, Ifsak and Fotoğrafya. I mean we know that you have a strong pencil. Could you please talk about it a little bit? I have say this regarding all kind of misunderstanding. Photography never needed writing. For me writing is another pleasure. It has a beautiful side. I really like writing. Maybe it is a way to express my experiences. I am really happy to be able to write as a photographer. The power of the photography is quite unique. Writing is another exciting method which I find and express myself and try to reach other people. So I can say that Photography and Writing is flirting now. What can you say about the effect of writing on photography? Photography is a new art which we gained in the New Age. It has a part which is coming from one of the oldest arts, painting. Literature is a very important art which tries to tel the story of humankind from the very early ages. I am not surprised with the relation of these two. Because all of us have same problems. We all want to have a better, happier world which we can touch each other more. In this context it is not absurd for them to flirt. On the contrary I think it is quite favorable for a more beautiful human culture. Actually I think art should be multidisciplinary and always in contact with each other. I think an artist, a photographer, a writer nourishes himself from all kinds of arts. You cannot be successful just by being interested in one branch of art. You cannot be one sided. I have a small friendship with writing. You have already answered my question indirectly but I want to ask again. Photography can change the world. What can you say about this? I heartily believe that photography can change the world. Everything is the expression of a single moment, a feeling. Photography is that much of powerful. It is very important for a photographer to capture the moment of his long developed philosophy, or to manipulate (as an experimental photographer) the images in his mind. Who can argue that a photography cannot capture the moment which will bring inspiration or the birth of a great energy? We have so many serious problems and also invaluable beauties. Who can think about what photography cannot do? Yes, a photograph can change the world, I will believe in this until I die. How many published book do you have? Are you working on a new book? I have one book from Antartist publishing. It is in the series of Turkish photography library. It was Timurtaş Onan’s offer to publish that book.

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

Fotoritim e-Books

I have also one more book which I haven't published. It was a project which was created between 2000 and 2004. In that work I was trying to tell that a world without wars possible and humankind can live in harmony with the nature. I call it “For a Brave World”, and I have its demo. But we couldn't finalize it for publishing. The reason is the difficulties of finding a sponsor. 'For a Brave World' is ready to be published and it is waiting for a brave publishing house like its title. My another book project is with you (Fotoritim). It is my third project and one of the most important one. It is quite important for me because it will be an e-book. It will be in the digital world which is the future world. So we will have an access to many people via Internet. I really appreciate and support Fotoritim's foresight. I am really thankful to Fotoritim for giving me this chance. Our world will be enriched with these kind of participatory efforts. Could you please talk about the contests which you joined and awarded? I guess you got the Şinasi Barutçu Cup. For sometime, contests motivates the artist. They help in the development of photography. But as you can guess contests are not everything. Participating many contests prevents photographer to look at his inside. I had many awards. I still join contests if I can find the suitable ones, and I am having an amateur joy from it. About the Şinasi Barutçu cup; It is very valuable and important cup in Turkey. It brings 3 years of preparation period. If are successful in one year you are invited for the next year. If you keep on succeeding for three years you get the cup. In each year you have to prepare a portfolio which includes a project. I t need discipline and focus. I think Şinasi Barutçu Cup is very helpful to Turkish photography. It helped me to be disciplined. For three years I had worked for three different projects seriously. After this tough period The cup was a real reward and memory. I really appreciate this cup. I hope these kind of cups emerges. we see some digital manipulation in your works. What do you think about digital manipulation? I think that digital manipulation is a tool for artist to express himself. It is a way of getting rid of any kind of conditioning used by photographers. This experimental approach existed from the beginning of photography. We used to realize our images in the dark room and now changing conditions brought new equipment. Methods can change. In the process of creation, the thing comes to the artist's mind is very important. I do not care how it is done. I think the most important thing is what the person wants to say. I respect all methods. We cannot say why they are using digital anymore. It is an opportunity for humankind to express himself given by the new age. We cannot deny it. But of course we can discuss that the manipulation is done well or not. For human it is not possible not to be affected by the innovations of the age. Think that we are having the same argument fifty years later. About digital manipulation... I think it would be really absurd discussion. Her Hakkı Saklıdır

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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Maybe we will discuss its effects on art but we won’t say it shouldn't be done. The artist is free. If he wants he expresses himself with old ways or uses manipulation. The aim is to express himself in the best way. We need to focus on the result. How it is done comes after it. What does photography mean to you? What would we deprived of in the absence of this art? I am very thankful. It is one of my favorite questions. I think I can express myself better about this. Firstly I want to thank photography to turning our lives into a visual festival and making us aware. Photography makes our lives meaningful. It is very important for understanding each other. If we were deprived of the photography we wouldn’t achieve a better world. I want to give a simpler example. Literature is a very deep rooted art. As you know I love the art of writing. I do not want to compare literature and photography, but I will point out a difference. Think about an illiterate society or a society which speaks another language. You can reach those people quite quickly. Photography has this kind of advantage. It has a quick access to everyone. It can make us share many common points even if we are different. Because of this photography is very powerful although it is new in the art history. If there wasn't photography we would be further away to peace and tranquility. I would like to appraise photography as an experimental and conceptual photographer. I believe in the power of the invisible and I think that photography is an art which makes us away from the prejudices and enables us to retouch ourselves. I am a designer who thinks to establish chateaus is harder than to built them on the earth. So I prefer experimental photography because of enabling me to exceed the one layered lifestyle. Because of this I really like conceptual and experimental photography. Photography has a power to touch, shape, and give meaning to our lives other than being a visual. We can call it watching ourselves. Can you compare Turkish Photography and world photography? Nice things started to be produced. There is a nice process. Turkish photography cannot flourish apart from the other arts and social development. This’s a parallel process. I think the development of the societies and the art in that country is interrelated. When we have a wider assessment in the world, we see that western art has strong bases like Renaissance. We are not as fast as west. We couldn't see some awareness and heredity of humankind. But now we do not have any excuses for being subordinate. There are a lot of things to do. Because the country which we live is the place where hosted many civilizations. Anatolia is the home for many civilizations which respected and welcomed many Her Hakkı Saklıdır

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

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arts. We grew up such a country. We couldn't realize our legacy sometimes. So we should decide where to start. It is not easy, we are the successors of a great wealth. If we give value to art Turkish photography will be influenced by this of course. We need a philosophy which will be fed by the creativity. If the society is not brave to proceed when it is time; this brings problems. West experienced this by risking the consequences. Actually I tried to explain this during our chat. I really like the idealist stand of the young generation in Turkish photography. They are quite brave. Photography getting attention more than ever. I think we need some discipline to turn it into synergy. This energy shouldn't be wasted. Turkish youth is quite excited, gifted and willing to learn. If we can organize this power, as public and private institutions, associations, photography will be flourished in my country. Which of us supporting an artist, let's think about it... We should start from ourselves. Of course by leaving all worries about having living. What are your future plans and suggestions? I always make drills to my heart. I have new projects. The birth of a project is not easy for me. It is a lot of hard work. I realized my project 'For a Brave World' for four years. Each project does not last less than a year. I cannot make projects in a couple of months. I want to read everything about the project and improve myself. I am like a student of my subject. Without this studentship, knowledge; I do not think that project can be successful. I have to suffer for it if it is needed. I have to be confused if it is needed. I have to go deep with my pain. without going deep with my pain my project cannot come alive. I following the light which will bring us further away in this world. I am in the way of searching a new approach and idea to express this. Again human, again universal. I want to finish by saying Maybe this time we will look at the life with different eyes. The rest is surprise. I have some suggestions for the young generation. First they should research, read and study all philosophical and artistic movements. Being a photographer brings following many art disciplines. You shouldn't be one sided. And I see a danger and want to warn about it. I give importance to new instruments of the age but I want to state this. Computers and staying in a room for log hours makes us antisocial and separates us from the life. They should be always inside of the life. They should breathe and feel. After that they should make produce what they see and think in their computers and in their rooms. Interview: Atakan DÜRÜST 2009 Place: Fotografevi

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

Fotoritim e-Books

Biography He was born in Istanbul in 1961. He studied Textile Art in Mimar Sinan University. When he was a student he became reporter in the daily newspaper Hürriyet and made news about environmental problems of Istanbul. He is a member of IFSAK and FOTOGEN Photography Associations, and he had a slide show which was called 'The Love of Universe and The Mystery of Life' between 1993-1997. This work have been watched in IFSAK 12.Istanbul Photography Days, Istanbul Slide Show Days, Istanbul University and History Waqf. Between 2000-2004, he prepared the project which is called 'For a Brave World. He has been working for the exhibition and the book project.

He had many awards in national contests.(first place in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality photography contest in 1994) His works have been accepted to archives and catalogs, published in art magazines. He participated in panels and supported amateur photography. In 1998 he got Şinasi Barutçu Cup.

Ali Balkı – The Power of the Invisible (Book 1)

Fotoritim e-Books

He participated many international biennials, and exhibited his works and gor awards. (with FIAP support he had exhibitions in Austria, France, Denmark, Finland, Macedonia between 1994-2000). In 1998 in FIAP's contest in Denmark, he got "The Golden Best Essay" award. In 1996 in 19th FİAP Biennial, he was in the Turkish group which got silver and gold medals. He was in the Turkey advertisement group in Japan in 2004 and in Slovenia in 2008. In 1999 he was given the AFİAP title by International Photography Federation. He worked as a responsible manager in Fotogen Photograph Art Association for 4 years. (1999-2003) His first book was published by Antartist Yayıncılık in Turkish photographers library series with a format which is including retrospective works. His last book, which is in e-book format, includes his articles published in Fotoritim between 2008-2009. The artist thinks that creative thinking expands the visual richness in his works and ideas. He enjoys questioning the reason of the existence of human being by deepening it with mystic thinking in his works. Ali Balkı expresses the responsibility of the artist like this: “We, artists should leave this stereotyped order and establish a new world without rigid images.' He explains the inspiration behind the universe exhibition project as: “we cannot forsake world, birds, mountains, each other, our fears even if we know that we are spoiling the nature more than we harmonize with it. Because we are all universe in this process.” “How beautiful to be a part of the universe. The world is our home and we are all partners who are living in the same house; some of us farmers, some of us are writers, some of us are trees, some of us are clouds, some of us are mosses on the rocks; we are on an eternal journey.” “I argue that we need to search for love and high conscious to find the answers of the universal questions. We can preserve this conscious with universal love.” 1993