Agop Arad (1913-1990) was an Armenian painter and journalist from Turkey. After graduating from the Fine Arts Academy of Istanbul, he went on to study under Jean Mertzinger and Fernand Léger at the Frochot Academy in Paris.
With a naive style, he painted the daily scenes he witnessed in Istanbul. He especially liked depicting the neighborhood he lived in, Tarabya. He was part of the Yeniler Grubu (The New Group) which identified with social realism. By distancing the art of painting from its Western influence, they wished to create a more popular artform within Turkey. Of one the group’s innovations was to agree a common theme which was then explored by each artist according to their own sensibilities. These themes generally involved instances of daily life that weren’t usually granted much attention in art. In fact, the first group exhibition they organized focused on port workers.
“The port exhibiton is essentially a demonstration of friends working together trustingly, with a common belief. We believed that the artist should have a good understanding of the country they live in, which they should be able to rely on. In fact, this new approach was also a response. This exhibition was a serious insult to the D Group. Their works seemed to have been painted by tourists, strangers to the country and society we live in. The most important aspect of the Yeniler Grubu’s struggle was social idealism. Bringing painting, as a cultural tool, closer to its environment, favoring a popular and accessible language, expressing issues through a social point of view,” explained the painter Turgut Atalay.
Agop Arad was also active in the literary community. He worked for various magazines and newspapers as a journalist and illustrator. He also designed book covers for his friends Orhan Kemal, Sait Faik Abasıyanık, Orhan Veli (to name a few). He did this to help their friends and support their works, without ever expecting a payment. “I’ve never really taken money into consideration when it came to art,” he said. He was featured in one of Sait Faik Abasıyanık’s short stories, Yaşasın Edebiyat (Long Live Literature).
What a guy is Arad, my dear painter. Behind his glasses, friendliness seeps through his big and dark brown eyes. You can tell him about all your troubles, he will listen. If it’s within his power, he will help. ‘Arad, man, do you think that … would print my stories?’ ‘Why wouldn’t he? Of course he would…’ ‘Could you speak to him?’ ‘I will right away.’
İSTASYON editions 