TANER ALAKUŞ
Taner Alakuş was born in 1966 in Ankara, Turkey . He gained his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Mimar Sinan between 1982 and 1986 where he studied illumination under Dr. Tahsin Aykutalp and miniature painting under Yakut Cem. He now teaches both genres in the Department of Traditional Turkish Arts at Mimar Sinan. Taner has exhibited his work in joint and solo exhibitions and his paintings are held in collections in around the world.
Exhibitions and awards include:
1996 1st. Prize in Miniature, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture, Traditional Turkish Arts State Award
1996 Türkiye İş Bankası, Traditional Art Exhibition,
1997 State Traditional Turkish Arts Exhibition,
1998 24th October Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall Exhibition,
1998 University of Mimar Sinan Faculty of Fine Arts Alummi Association Exhibition,
1999 The Yıldız Palace 700th Year’s of Ottoman Arts Exhibition,
1999 Solo Exhibition, Beyoğlu Vakko Art Gallery,
1999 Destek Reasurance Art gallery, From Yesterday Today 116th Years of University Mimar Sinan’s Cultural Generations Exhibition,
2000 Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Illumination and Miniature Exhibition,
2003 Conrad Exhibition Center , French Cultural Center, Charity Painting and Sculpture,
2003 1st. Prize in Miniature, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture Traditional , Turkish Arts State Award,
2003 Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall ( Miniature ,Illumination,Tile)
2005 1st. Prize in Miniature, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture Traditional,Turkish Arts State Award,
2006 Pendik/İstanbul Art Festival
2007 AKM Concert Hall Exhibition
2007 Pendik/İstanbul Art Festival
2008 Rotary Club Art Festival
Taner laments the marginalization not only of miniature art but of all traditional Turkish art forms, overshadowed as they have been by the modern arts. His mission is to resurrect miniature art for a wider public and to restore its place in modern Turkish art. In the world of miniature art there are no strict rules to be followed and as such Taner believes it is a traditional art form readily applicable and adaptable to contemporary life. With his painting he aims not only to restore the tradition of miniature art in Turkey but to bring this traditional art form to a wider European audience.