Aloşnâme: The Philosopher`s Stone of a Sculptor

One of the leading figures of modern Turkish sculpture, a.k.a. Aloş, started producing Aloşnâme in the highly charged social atmosphere of the 1970s. Spanning from then to our times, this visual diary gives clues to the personal history of a sculptor who deserves particular mention for his drawings, and holds a visual comment full of metaphors regarding Turkish history.

Aloşnâme: The Philosopher’s Stone of a Sculptor brings this exceptional collection of drawings in such a rich scope for the first time. Art historian Ahu Antmen’s analysis of this open-ended masterpiece and her conversation with the artist provides a window onto the enigma of the Aloşnâme.

I have seen many birds of prey in my life. They had sharp, piercing claws, and terrifying beaks.

Let alone those threatening, hostile eyes…

I’ve come across snakes of all shapes and sizes. No words can describe them.

All kinds of creatures have passed me by. Each and every one of them left a mark.

I saw seashells in the depths of water, unmoved by the roughest of turmoils – withdrawn, indifferent. Everything I saw, I saw within man, weaved into time and space.

Aloş