Why Golden Karagöz?

Shadow play, Karagöz as called by people, is one of the most prominent cultural symbols of Bursa and an influential phenomenon of Turkish culture. Researches regarding the roots of Karagöz yielded a close relationship with Bursa, for both the heroes, Karagöz and Hacivat, and also the creator, Şeyh Küşteri of this shadow play are from Bursa. It is known that about 600 years ago Karagöz and Hacivat has worked at the construction of Orhan Camii, or according to some rumors Ulu Camii of Bursa.

Karagöz Shadow Play is staged behind a framed white sheet. The figures are played against a light source enabling shadows to be projected on the screen. This is why, the Turkish shadow play Karagöz, born in Bursa centuries ago and spred through all Turkey, can said to be the first hero of the big screen.

İpek Yolu Film Fest aiming to emphasize the fact that now internationally famed Karagöz is the first hero of the dream screen, has named its national and international competitions and “figured” its rewards as Golden Karagöz.

The debutant three dimensional Karagöz is designed by artist Gülşah Özbek. Conceptual consultancy of the statue has been provided by Hayali* Orhan Kurt, the vice president of UNIMA (International Puppet and Shadow Play Assosciation) who has devoted his 60 years to Karagöz art.

*Hayali, is the puppeteer and stroy teller of Karagöz Shadow Play.

She was born in İstanbul in 1976. Since the family business, jewelry design, moved to İzmit, she finished her secondary and high school education in that city. She came back to İstanbul for her higher education and graduated from the Department of Painting in Atatürk School of Education at Marmara University. Gülşah Özbek has been an artist member of 7 White Doors Art Workshop for over 10 years. Among her works are abstract figurative style paintings, sculptures, and ceramic pieces, theater decor, sticker designs, jewelry designs, ebru applications. After the Gölcük earthquake, she moved to İstanbul permanently and participated in several individual and mixed exhibitions. The giant paintings (2 X 3 Meters) she made for Kocaeli fair were purchased by Gölcük Navy. She opened her latest exhibition in Cemal Reşit Rey foyer in April 2007. The artist currently teaches painting and ceramic in a private high school and keeps working on her art in Atölye Sanat Hane in Taksim.