Hasan Kıran (1966-) has been working on the traditional Japanese woodcut technique for more than 30 years in his productive art career, and is one of the important names in Turkish woodcut art. His works are intertwined with 'Shamanism' both conceptually and formally. This structure, which is formed within the shamanist approach, includes belief in nature and dance rituals. Every image he creates has a meaning. The formation process of all these images goes back to the childhood of the artist. The effects of the geography he lived in and the shepherd stage he realized in this process are high. The stories he wants to tell us and the energies he wants to make us feel are included in the print paintings he handles with his fairy tale narrative style. Çatalhöyük, Urartian motifs, Anatolian shamanism, shaman myths and rituals, which Kıran includes in his works, come to life with an allegorical expression. Studies are shaped on all these foundations and sketches are created, each of which is a work. It turns into prints transferred to paper in layers and is usually multi-colored and sometimes presented to the audience in gigantic sizes. The artist also made expressive works, influenced by Van Gogh and Edvard Munch.
Kıran's works are the transformation of mystical and primitive aspects of mythical thoughts into new forms of expression through images. In other words, it is the situation where mythical myths turn into visual propositions with an expressive understanding. Addressing the nature and human-based discourses of Anatolian Shamanism, especially the constructive and healing aspect of Shaman, Kıran creates concrete and abstract geometric forms with symbols in line with these themes. Likewise, it brings together the rhythmic movement of the dance during the ritual with the audience. He associates this with the sound of the bells attached to the neck of the animal to follow the herd in the shepherd. Although the starting point is shepherd, Kıran later attributes this effect to the bells and bells, which are believed to expel the shaman's evil spirits, and strengthens its effect with the bell scheme circulating in his prints. Shaman figure, shaman dress, drum symbols are also frequently included in print paintings. The density of concrete and abstract geometric forms that point to shaman and shamanism, especially in the artist's recent print paintings, draws attention. Today, technically like a master of ukiyo-e, Kıran continues his Far Eastern style printing works with discipline in his own workshop, and draws attention in our country with his preference for an unusual painting plane, namely wood, and his unusual large-scale works.
Born in 1966 in Doğanşehir (Malatya), the artist graduated from İnönü University, Faculty of Education, Painting Department in 1993. In 1995, he joined the International Salzburg (Austria) Summer Academy (Jim Dine Workshop). He continued his studies in Germany between 1995-97. In 1998, he received his "Master's Degree in Art" from Hacettepe University with his thesis on "On Causality in Art". In 2000, he entered the Painting Department of Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Fine Arts, as a research assistant. In 2003, he worked as a "research assistant" at Tokyo State University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, on Japanese Printmaking and Printmaking Education. In 2005, he entered the "Doctoral Program" at Tokyo State University of the Arts and won the "Rotary Education Scholarship". The artist, who completed his art proficiency education at Tokyo Fine Arts Faculty in Japan, published his book "Wood Printing", which deals with Eastern and Western printmaking methods, in 2010. Kıran, who is still a faculty member at Hacettepe University Fine Arts Faculty Painting Department, produced his works with a dynamic process, participated in many international exhibitions and won awards.
The Magic of the Drum, woodcut, and pattern 276x830cm, 2019-2021
The Magic of the Drum, woodcut, and pattern 276x830cm, 2019-2021
The Magic of the Drum, woodcut, and pattern 276x830cm, 2019-2021
Cycle, Hacettepe University Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery, 2014.
Shamanic Bells, Wood carving and painting, 250x85cm, 2021