Turkish artist wins award in Oxford fest
ISTANBUL
Marbling artist Hikmet Barutçugil poses with his work 10-meter gunpowder marbling on satin fabric, which wins the Best of the Best award at the Art in Action in Oxford.
Turkish marbling artist Hikmet Barutçugil won the “Best of the Best” award in the 35th edition of the traditional arts festival Art in Action in Oxford, England.This year 400 artists from around the world participated in the festival. Barutçugil, who has been invited to the festival for 16 years, was chosen as the winner from among those 300 artists.
Art in Action has been organized by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) since 1977. It is inspired by the simple principle that people are fascinated when artists and craftsmen openly demonstrate their skills and discuss their work. The 600 volunteers who help to organize Art in Action are students of philosophy at LSE.
Today the event hosts approximately 25,000 people over four days. Visitors come to learn, buy and enjoy exhibitions, classes and performances by 400 demonstrating artists, designers, makers, teachers, musicians and performers. Disciplines represented at the event include painting, sculpture, glass, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, metalwork and jewelry.
The winner of the “Best of the Best” award is chosen through the votes of artists participating in the festival.
Barutçugil’s 10-meter gunpowder marbling on satin fabric was exhibited hanging from the ceiling. The piece was labeled “please do touch and feel,” and it is a reflection of nature through its design and colors. When visitors touched the work, they were surprised by the feel of the fabric.
“This award is like the satisfying result of my feelings and thoughts, which I have been defending for years. The fact that the jury is composed of the artists participating in the festival makes the award more valuable,” said Barutçugil.
