Shepherd from Kars becomes a sculptor

KARS - Doğan News Agency

Metin Doğrukartal is a native of Kars, in northeastern Turkey, and will be exhibiting his small sculptures, depicting various national heritage sites. DHA photos

A Kars shepherd has been attracting attention for his small sculptures, and hopes to build a business selling them.

Metin Doğrukartal is a native of Kars, in northeastern Turkey, and will be exhibiting his small sculptures, depicting various national heritage sites, at the Ani ruins on the Turkish-Armenian border, where he hopes to sell them to tourists. Doğrukartal attracted the attention of Naif Alibeyoğlu, the area’s municipality manager, while he was feeding his sheep near the village of Merkez Namurlu. He started working at the Namık Kemal Culture house in 2005, and has built sculptures of the Kars Tower, Kars’ stone bridge, Evliya Mosque, the Church of the Twelve Apostles, Kümbet Mosque, and the tomb of Ebu-l Hasan Harakani Hazretleri. He would like to earn money with this talent.

Doğrukartal is married and has three children. He graduated from primary school. He creates his sculptures from stones he finds while tending his sheep. He says he has no education as a artist. “Many tourists visit the Ani Ruins during the summer. I will exhibit my sculptures and sell them. Whenever I see a stone I take it and try to reshape it. All my life I have worked with stones. I love my profession,” he said.