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COPLU

ARTIST OF LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

Coplu a self-taught artist, was born in Ushak, Turkey, in 1958. His family migrated to Istanbul when he was 6 and he lived there for thirty years. The sixties and seventies were periods of optimism, socialism and humanism in his country as well as around the world, but the 80’s brought very different political and social periods. When he was studying at the Technical University of Istanbul to become a mining engineer, he witnessed great turmoil among the youth and his daily life was effected by riots and demonstrations, which he wanted to document. In 1980, the military took over the power of governing and censorship was applied in almost every acts of life. In response to censorship and oppression of freedom of expression, he began drawing cartoons. His passion for drawing grew and it was not long before his art became more important to him than his studies.

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He participated in his first art exhibition in Istanbul in 1984, followed by many solo exhibitions in Turkey and group exhibitions in Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Spain, USA and Canada. His illustrations have been published in numerous magazines, newspapers, books and catalogues both in Turkey and across Europe. Since his first international recognition in 1989 with the Nasreddin Hodja International Cartoon Competition Special Talent Award, he has received 25 awards in national and international competitions, including second prize in cartoon competition in Okhotsk - Japan.

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He contributed cartoons to the Turkish Daily News for 5 years. He established the Cartoon School of Antalya, the Open Air Cartoon Exhibition Space and, organized International Cartoon Competition of Antalya in 1991-1993. He taught many pupils the art of seeing the humorous side of life. 

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He has been exploring forms of visual art and he developed his own style of painting last fifteen years.  The subjects of his paintings are always human beings and the environment that he is part of. His work mirrors human beings’ positive feelings; such as love, dream, passion, hope, laugh, beliefs, thoughts, and wishes. He has been interviewed by many media, his work has been recently documented by Channel News Asia and screened in Singapore and other 22 countries in Asia. His paintings are mainly bought by private collectors and institutions. 12 of his limited editions are printed by Aurora Fine Art and Buckingham Fine Art Publishers, distributed and sold in galleries through out in the UK.  

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He has been working on three dimensional arts in recent years as well and produced 6 sculptures from the figures and scenes of his paintings. One of the largest sculptures, titled “Nature of Love-Warmth”, was permanently placed in Singapore Changi Airport’s recently launched Terminal 4.  He continuously traveling between three continents; observing people and their cultures, attending to workshops, charity events, Art Fairs, holding exhibitions as well as artist talks.

coplu-portrait.jpg
REPRESENTING GALLERIES
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Ode To Art - SINGAPORE

Gallery 444 - SAN FRANCISCO - USA

Beijing Central Art Gallery - BEIJING - CHINA

V’Art Space - KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA

Wertheim Gallery - HAWAII - USA

Gallery Rouge- London - UK

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SOME SOLO EXHIBITIONS
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2019- Bonds of Love- V’art Space- Art Taipei & Paujan Gallery - Taiwan

2019- Spring of Love- Ode To Art Gallery - Singapore

2019- Spring of Love-Asia Contemporary Art Show - Hong Kong

2018 - Asia Contemporary Art Show - Hong Kong

2017 - Fly To L0ve- Ode to Art Gallery - Singapore

2015 - Heart To Heart - Simyo Gallery - Seoul-S. Korea

2014 - Mankind in Universe- Art Revolution - Taipei Taiwan 

2011 - State of the Art Gallery - Hong Kong

2011 - Love;It takes Two- Ode to Art Gallery - Singapore & Kuala Lumpur

2009 - Land of Love and Dream- Ode to Art Gallery - Singapore& Kuala Lumpur

2009 - Art Attack Gallery - Dubai

2009 - State of the Art Gallery - Hong Kong

2008 - Ode to Art Gallery - Singapore & Kuala Lumpur

2007 - State of the Art Gallery - Hong Kong

2006 - MJC des 4 Bordes Metz - France

2003 - Eurocentre-La Rochelle - France

2002 - Room George Chepfer Nancy - France

2001 - Int.Contemporary Art Fair Malaga - Spain

2000 - Galleri Hittite Toronto - Canada

1999 - Vienna Centre - Vienna - Austria

1998 - Caravanserai Aksaray - Turkey

1997 - State Fine Art & Sculpture Museum - Izmir - Turkey

1996 - Pimapen Culture House -Istanbul - Turkey

1996 - Atelier House - Hamburg - Germany

1996 - State Fine Art & Sculpture Museum - Ankara - Turkey

1995 - Hilton Exhibition Hall - Istanbul - Turkey

1995 - Archaeological Museum Art Gallery - Antalya - Turkey

1994 - Pamukkale  Museum - Denizli - Turkey

1993 - Cartoon Alley - Antalya - Turkey

1992 - Is Bank Art Gallery - Antalya - Turkey

1991 - State Fine Art Gallery - Antalya - Turkey

1989 - Akbank Art Gallery - Istanbul - Turkey

1988 - Culture Center Exh. Hall - Eskisehir - Turkey

1985 - Antalya Municipality Culture Center - Turkey

1984 - Bilim Art Gallery - Istanbul - Turkey

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2018 Art Taipei - Taiwan

2017 Art Expo - Malaysia

2014 Affordable Art Fair - Hong Kong

2011 2012   Art Revolution - Taiwan

2009 Gallery 444 San Francisco - America

2009 Howe Street Gallery - Vancouver - Canada

2007 Lando Gallery, Edmonton - Canada

13th Rassegna Umoristica Internazionale - Italy

17th Biennial Internazionale Dell'Umorismo Nell'Arte - Italy

22th Salon International de la Caricature - Canada

International Simavi Cartoon Exhibitions - Turkey

2nd International Tehran Biennial - Iran

3rd Taejon Int'l Cartoon Contest - Korea

Premio Satira Politica - Italy

Eurohumor - Italy

Okhotsk International Cartoon Exhibitions - Japan

Annual Int. Nasreddin Hodja Cartoon Exhibitions since 1988 - Turkey

World Cartoon Gallery - Macedonia

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SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
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Special Talent Prize Int. Nasreddin Hodja Cartoon Competition - Turkey

2nd Prize, International Okhotsk Cartoon Competition - Japan

Honorable Mention, International Taejon Cartoon Competition - Korea

3rd Prize, International Simavi Cartoon Competition - Turkey

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HIS WORK​ HAD BEEN REPRESENTED BY THE GALLERIES
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Lahaina Galleries, Hawaii - USA

State Of The Art Gallery - HONG KONG

Howe Street Gallery of Fine Art-Vancouver - CANADA

Lando Gallery -  Edmonton - CANADA

Fingerhut Galleries - California USA

Nexus Modern Art Gallery - Melbourne - AUSTRALIA

The Link Gallery- Colorado - USA

Collection Privee- Miami - USA

Webster Galleries - CANADA

Art Attack Gallery - DUBAI

Jacob Gallery- Toronto - CANADA

Simyo Gallery- Seoul - SOUTH KOREA

Simon Patrick Gallery - Vancouver - CANADA

Auraro Art- Dewsbery - UK

Artisan Galleries- Epping - UK

Bailey Arts- Cheshire - UK

Rennies Gallery- Liverpool - UK

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