Hattusha

On 1st of May, I found the chance of visisting the capital of Hittites. Hittites were one of the ancient civilizations in Anatolia and Northern Syria between 2nd and 1st millenia BC. The remains (temples - only the foundations - gates at the walls and inscriptions) were so fascinating and the areas to visit was scattered to an area of 72 hectares so it was no possible to scetch everything in limited time. Up to now, 32 temples have been founded, each dedicated to a different god. Once upon a time this area was named as "Nation of Thousand Gods". One stretch of the city walls has been reconstructed by German Archelogical Institute with the sponsorship of JTI. Clay model of the towers founded during excavations has been used as a basis. The same technic of the Hittites has been used (mud bricks supported by wood and stone foundation). The below sketch is showing this reconstructed stretch on a cloudy day.

After Hattusha, I have visited Alacahoyuk which is much smaller compared to Hattusa and is not impressing as much as previous. On the other hand next to the site there is a small but very well organized museum. However the most precious parts founded in these areas are exhibited in Anatolian Civilizations Museum which is in Ankara. In this archelogical site it is possible to see the reconstructed cemetery for the kings adressed to 2500 BC. The graves are each about 25m2 and the skeletons of the king is in one corner. They were burried with precious material and the skulls and bones of cattles.In the reconstruction they have put the replicas of these items in the grave and a quick sketch of how they look like is below.

On the way back, I have made a sketch of the middle Anatolia outskirt.

Sketching in Karaköy

Tucked in amidst the paint stores and fishing equipment shops of Karaköy is Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai.  After discovering this place I made at least 4 trips to the location to work on a sustained sketch.  Rüstem Pasha is now a working han, although it used to house travelers on the silk road.  

I love finding spaces like this in Istanbul...spaces that would be closed to the public or marked as "private property" in any other city.  But in Istanbul, I can always seem to wander in, sit on some box or abandoned chair and begin drawing.  No one tells me to leave or that I am not allowed, but instead I become part of the environment... along with the han workers, cats, stacked up boxes...the sound of clinking metal and drills from the workshops below, and seagulls in the sky. 

Gabrielle Reeves "Rustem Pasha Han" Mixed Media on Paper, 2014

Amasra

 

The sketches are from Amasra which is a Black Sea town at the North West Cost of Turkey. The name is coming from Amatris who was a Persian princess. The above view is the lefthand side of the old harbour.

The panaromic view of the right hand side of the old harbour.

Pier Kadikoy

Yesterday I have sketched the Kadikoy Pier from the terrace of Deniz Yildizi Cafe which has a magnificient view especially in the late afternoon. Although everything was very calm under the last moments of September daylight, suddenly a big group of protesters have approached with slogans and entered the pier from exit gate to go to Karakoy and than Taksim. It seems it will be a long autumn.

Resist

 I drew the above sketch on Saturday, June 15— the day the police invaded Gezi Parkı. I had no idea this would be the last time I could sketch Gezi as it was; a peaceful, fun, creative place where people of all backgrounds came together to speak out against what they believe is wrong for their country. I've never seen anything like it. That night, I watched in horror as the police stormed the park, kicking in tents and gassing everything that moved— even going so far as to gas a hospital and hotel lobby, where injured people and lost children were taking refuge. I will never understand the violence, the lack of compassion and the blatant lying— this was, and still is, a peaceful protest.



Last week, a man named Erdem Gunduz stopped in the middle of Taksim Square and silently stood, facing the Atatürk Kültür Merkezi. He stood for eight hours. Soon, hundreds of protesters joined in and just... stood. On the first night, several were arrested by the police who are now a permanent fixture— occupying the park and every possible entrance to the Square. This new form of civil disobedience spread like wild fire throughout the country, stopping people in their tracks for five minutes at the very least, to hours on end. Since then, we've had red carnations for the dead, and sit-ins, the protest changing form but never its message.

Kugulu Park, Ankara

Kugulu Park / Park with Swans - No swans in the small pond by today. Moved to another place not to be affected from gas.

Diren Gezi

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: Smoke rising from Gezi Parkı— PeF

We have seen a little bit of everything these last days in Taksim. We have seen much more on those social networks that have been condemned. And we have sketched a few moments of the ongoing turmoil that has taken Istanbul and many other Turkish cities. These are drawings mabe be me and fellow correspondent Samantha Zaza, from June 1st till June 3rd. And from what I understand from what has been happening on the political side, it seems these will not be the last.

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: A shower of tear gas canister shot by the police— szaza

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: Protesters— szaza

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: Protesters— PeF

Gezi Parkı, June 2nd: Children at the playground— PeF

Beşiktaş Meydanı, June 3rd: Police gathering behind Barbaros statue— PeF