"We take care to honor everyone who feels a sense of belonging to the country and nation in the field of culture and art"
"We take care to honor everyone who feels a sense of belonging to the country and nation in the field of culture and art"
In his speech at the Presidential Awards ceremony in the field of culture and art, President Erdogan said: "As in any field, culture and art do not look at anyone's worldview, lifestyle or political position, we take care to honor everyone who belongs to this country, this people and this land.". Every artist who does not imitate and does not follow, but draws inspiration from his own culture, society, past and roots, is the crown of our head."
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the presidential awards ceremony in the field of culture and art, which was held at the Beshtepe National Congress and Culture Center, and delivered a speech.
President Erdogan began his speech by welcoming and expressing respect to all the artists who have opened new horizons for the world of culture and art with their work in Turkey and abroad.
Congratulating the award-winning artists, intellectuals and literary figures, craftsmen and their representatives, President Erdogan wished success to the laureates, whose works have overcome centuries and nourished the cultural and artistic branches of the river of civilization.
Expressing gratitude to the members of the selection committee who determined the winners through a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process, President Erdogan said, "This year we are presenting awards in eight different categories, ranging from literature and librarianship, from music to theater, from science and culture to cinema and crafts."
LAUREATES OF PRIZES IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE AND CULTURE PROF. DR. GENUL TEKIN AND PROF. DR. GUNAY KUT
Recalling that Professor Dr. Genul Tekin and Professor Dr. Gunay Kut were awarded prizes in the field of science and culture, President Erdogan stated the following: "Professor Genul Tekin, one of the world's leading Turkologists, has conducted important studies shedding light on old Turkish literature through his books and articles, research and conferences. Professor Genul Tekin, who teaches Ottoman Turkish, Uzbek and Chagatai languages at Harvard University, paved the way for Turkish studies based on Turkish publications in the West, thanks to the journal of Turkish Studies, which he edited for many years."
President Erdogan recalled that Tekin played an important role in the opening of the summer school of the Ottoman Turkish language at Harvard University in Kund, and continued as follows: "Our professor discussed the works of many monumental names such as Mevlana, Yunus Emre, Ali Shir Nevai, Evlia Celebi and Ahmed-i Dai from an interdisciplinary point of view. Professor Gunay Kut is another internationally recognized and respected professor in the field of Turkology and Ancient Turkish literature. Professor Gunay Kut, one of the outstanding students of the late Khalil Inalcık, provided significant assistance to Turkish culture by founding the Department of Turkology at Bogazici University and the Ataturk Institute at Oxford University. Gunay Kut, who made a significant contribution to the development of Turkology, especially in the field of biographies and manuscripts, played a crucial role in the international recognition of the Turkish language and Turkish literature. I congratulate both winners of the Science and Culture Prize and thank them for the valuable work they have done so far."
FATMA KARABIIK BARBAROSOGLU LITERARY AWARD WINNER
Recalling that this year's literary prize was awarded to Fatma Karabıık Barbarosoglu, President Erdogan said: "Fatma Barbarosoglu, who began her writing career at a very young age, at the age of 18, has become one of the names that have won a place in Turkish literature through her short stories, novels, essays, articles, interviews and columns.. In her works, she touched on the relationship between modernism and tradition, alienation, especially the place of women in society, the problems they face, love, friendship and altruism in a sociologically impressive style. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Fatma Barbarosoglu, who said, "My tree, my seed are words," and wish her continued success in her writing and intellectual life.
" MUSIC PRIZE WINNER AHMET OZKHAN
President Erdogan recalled that this year's music prize winner was Ahmet Ozkhan, and said that Ozkhan, who left behind 57 years of creative life, brought important works to classical Turkish music with his personality, knowledge and experience.
Noting that with his compositions, interpretations, performances and research, Ozhan has made a unique contribution to Turkish art and Sufi music, President Erdogan said: "He has built strong bridges between the past and the future. From Bukhurizade Itri Efendi to Hamamizade Dede Efendi, from Sultan Ahmet Khan I to Alvarla Efe Hazret, he brought texts, compositions and speeches of many people to the present day. I congratulate Akhmet Ozkhan, who shows everyone how to be an exemplary artist and an exemplary personality, and thank him for his valuable contributions to our art and Sufi music."
THEATER AWARD WINNER TURAN OFLAZOGLU
President Erdogan said that this year's theater award was awarded to Turan Oflazoglu, and added: "Turan Oflazoglu, combining universal themes with local and ancient values, today's landscape with our historical events and personalities, distinguished himself by his broad views and extensive knowledge. Turan Oflazoglu, who fed the theatrical plays that mark Turkish literature with his poems, essays, scripts and circles, has become one of our strong writers who have taken a firm place in our world of culture and art. I congratulate Mr. Oflazoglu, who looks at modern people like a mirror, saying in one of his works: "A man becomes a wound cutting through the bosom of the world, when he could be the most beautiful flower blooming in the world," and I wish him health and abundance of life."
WINNER OF THE RAMADAN MINDER LIBRARIANSHIP AWARD
Stating that libraries are places of knowledge and culture where the centuries-old memory of peoples lives, preserves and supports, President Erdogan said: "Providing these places with breath and providing access to them to all segments of society, especially scientists and researchers, is necessary for the continuation of our national and spiritual identity. To preserve our national and spiritual identity, it is necessary that these places have a breathing structure and be accessible to all segments of society, especially scientists and researchers. We present our library award to Ramadan Minder, who devoted 25 years of his life to the Ataturk Library and is now the director of the Beyazit State Library, Turkey's first state library founded by Sultan Abdulhamit Khan." During the February 28 trial, which is one of the shameful documents of our democratic history, 4,500 books belonging to the Sultan Abdulhamid Khan library in the Yildiz Palace were unfortunately thrown away by those who were enemies of their own history.
Ramadan Minder, who brought all these books, including rare works, to the Ataturk library, acquired the personal archives of the defender of Medina Fahrettin Pasha, hero of Hamidiye Rauf Orbai and many other historical figures and brought them to the library of Ataturk. Mr. Minder, who has worked faithfully to preserve and restore manuscripts and printed works at the Beyazit State Library, has played a leading role in modernizing our libraries through digitization and cataloging, as well as organizing social spaces. I congratulate Ramadan Minder, who has made great efforts to bring our library collections to the current level, and I express my gratitude to him for protecting our historical and cultural heritage."
THE WINNER OF THE AWARD "ARTISAN" SALIH BALAKBABALAR
President Erdogan stated that this year's Artisan Award was awarded to Salih Balakbabalar, and that many of Salih Hoxha's works, which combined traditional arts such as calligraphy, ornamentation, woodcarving and mother-of-pearl craftsmanship with his own style and brought them to an original and modern style, have been exhibited in museums. and collections in Turkey and abroad.
President Erdogan said: "I cordially congratulate our precious mother of pearl, who gave birth to the rarest works of calligraphy and Turkish decoration made of materials such as gold, silver, mother of pearl, wood, ivory and brass, and thank him for his unique contribution to our traditional art."
LOYALTY AWARD WINNER HALIT REFIG
Stating that this year's Loyalty Award winner was Halit Refig, a master of Turkish cinema, President Erdogan said that Halit Refig, who continued his studies in cinematography from 1958 until 2009, when he passed away, had brought valuable work to Turkish cinema as a consultant and screenwriter over his half-century of creative life., producer and director.
Explaining that Halit Refig influenced the construction of Turkish cinema based on local and national values through the national film movement, which he initiated, President Erdogan stated that Halit Refig, who criticized the Western understanding of cinema not only with his films but also with his books, argued that Turkey's history and core values should be put at the center. Turkish cinema.
President Erdogan said: "He skillfully and realistically transferred our national culture, historical past and those qualities that make us who we are to the cinema screen." I am Halit Refig, and everything I know about Turkey and the Turkish people today, I learned through my profession and interest in Turkish cinema. I am glad and proud to be one of the pioneers of the first real folk art in Turkey, which comes from the people and will return to the people." I wish God's mercy to Halit Refig, who defined himself with these words. I hope and wish that we have fulfilled our debt of gratitude to him by awarding the loyalty award. I once again congratulate our artists, teachers and craftsmen who received the Presidential Grand Prix in the field of culture and art, and I express my gratitude to each of them personally and on behalf of my people. I would like to take this opportunity to thankfully recall the cultural and artistic figures who in the past were recognized as worthy of these awards and who are not among us today."
"Only and exclusively works of culture and art convey a message to the permanent future from reason, spirit, morality and roots. Our ancestors gave our world of science, thought and art the following aphoristic saying: "There is no perfection in bad things," said President Erdogan, adding that it is important to define this saying as a guide in the activities of culture and art, which should be guided in politics, business, education, family and social life.
"MEDIOCRE MATERIAL DOES NOT PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY WORK"
Stressing that high-quality work will never come from mediocre materials and that Turkey is a happy country in this regard, President Erdogan said: "Not only our country, but every corner of our heart is full of outstanding works and outstanding personalities with cultural values originating from Turkish and Islamic civilization. We are a continuation of a strong civilization with the works that we have created over the centuries in music, architecture, literature, many branches of science, culture and art, and the people of science and culture that we have brought out of our structure. One of the things that today's youth should never forget is that this civilization has done exemplary work that inspired other nations in science and art three centuries ago."
President Erdogan said that at the moment, everyone should revive and enrich this heritage through the work of experts in the field of science and culture and resolutely strive for the future.
Explaining that in Turkey, as in the rest of the world, the influence of neoliberal cultural trends and digitalization has increased, which unify every organism, Erdogan said that for this reason it is necessary to preserve traditional arts that have gone down in history and bring scientific and cultural research to a much higher level, taking into account the opportunities provided today.
"WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH THE SAME LIGHT THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE PAST"
President Erdogan stated that they organized the Presidential Prize for Culture and Art under the motto "Ingenuity is praiseworthy," and that in accordance with this goal, they presented the prizes to enlighten the future with the light they received from the past, and added the following: "As in any other field, in culture and art we do not look at anyone's worldview, lifestyle or political position and we take care to reward everyone who belongs to this country, this people and these lands. Every artist who draws inspiration from his culture, society, past and roots, rather than imitating or following them, is our pearl. Every artist, scientist, and thinker who has dedicated his life to enriching our heritage holds a special place in our hearts. As a state, we provide all possible support to everyone who practices their art with love, who cares about the problems of this nation and who does not look down on it. Our artists are, as they say, "great people", in our eyes they are great people.
The late Nurettin Topcu, defining a great man, said: "A great man is someone who combines his deeds with life. We look for the following qualities in him: first, he is a person who adheres to the same beliefs and the same faith all his life. It does not change depending on the epochs, needs and society. He doesn't adjust to the environment, he adjusts it to himself, and if he doesn't adjust, he comes into conflict. He is stronger than society, he pulls society with him. I hope that we will continue to support you, our valuable cultural, artistic and scientific figures, who serve as hosts for society, as we have done so far."