Coplu Biography
Born in the town of Ushak, Turkey and now based in Vancouver,
Canada. Coplu’s impressive journey as an artist started as a young child. His
mother, a weaver, taught him about figures,
the meanings of patterns and the emotional effectiveness of colour.
His formative years were periods of optimism for Coplu, although the challenges
and changes in the world around him gave him the urge to paint for freedom of
expression. His first tool was a carved stick that he used while he was studying
to become a mining engineer.
Coplu states, “My heart could not remain on my studying while my mind was
completely occupied with political issues. I was witnessing a huge turmoil in my
environment and documenting it through my art. Soon art became more important to
me than the study of rocks and soil.”
Following his first art exhibition in 1984, Coplu has since become a well-loved
and widely collected artist with exhibitions throughout Europe, North America
and Japan. His works have been published in numerous magazines, newspapers,
books and catalogues across the world.
COPLU ON COPLU
My work is a mirror that reflects the feelings, beliefs, thoughts, fears and
experiences that we all share in life. The subjects of my paintings are the
relationships between ourselves, and the environments we are connected to. My
figures are mostly on the edge of contrasting feelings such as hope and despair,
joy and pain, love and hate. I aim to provoke viewer's thoughts with
contradictions because most of our acts and instincts encompass these.
Generally, there are three strong elements in my paintings that I have the
privilege to combine, all of which I try to express a vibrancy through – colour,
humour and technique. Being raised alongside broad cultural diversities, where
all feelings and levels of expression were represented by colour, they became
very much part of my life. Humour is a key element in my paintings as I try to
see the funny side in all things - I believe it is one of the most effective
ways to open minds and raise consciousness.
Being a self taught artist I have had the opportunity of developing my free
style and uniqueness through having a free soul and mind. I try to combine my
creative elements in a simple, instinctive way so that they strike a chord with
anybody who has experienced what life brings their way.
I have just recently decided to publish my work for the first time in 20 years
offering collectors exclusive limited edition prints.
Life is Beautiful…COPLU