Aşık Veysel Painting

S. AYKUT ÜNKER - Biography He was born in Mardin in 1953, where his father went to work. His mother is of Black Sea and his father is of Circassian origin. He started painting before primary school. He attended primary school in Istanbul Maltepe Feyzullah Primary School. During his primary school years, he won the first prize in an inter-primary painting competition. In 68, when he was studying at Maltepe High School, he won the 'Young Painters World Championship' in a competition in Sofia. In addition, with an exhibition he opened here, he also received the title of Child Turkish Painter, who opened the first painting exhibition abroad with his own private effort. He was introduced to the President of France, Degaulle, who visited our country in those years, at Yıldız Şale Mansion and presented Degaulle with an award-winning painting. He won a French scholarship from Degaulle. He took French lessons for two years at the French Consulate. He also won a state scholarship in those years. He appeared on Ankara television in 69. Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel summoned him to his office and gave a scholarship, gave Demirel a painting as a gift. He visited Spanish Ambassador Gomez at the embassy in Ankara with TRT and presented him with an award-winning painting. He was invited to Spain. In 72, he was introduced to the famous football player Pele in Istanbul and gave him a painting as a gift, and received an invitation from Pele to Brazil. In 72, İsmet İnönü invited Ünker to his mansion in Maltepe and congratulated him. Ünker drew a charcoal portrait of İnönü here. He also studied technical drafting. In 75, he worked for many years in the editorial staff of Hürriyet Newspaper as a painter and graphic designer, and also wrote many news articles. In the 70s, a street in Maltepe was named 'Painter Aykut Ünker Street'. He worked as a painter, graphic designer and reporter for many years in the newspapers Son Havadis, Cumhuriyet, Milliyet, Günaydın, Tercüman Bulvar, Hürriyet and Dünya. He retired in 94. In the same year, he opened an exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany. In 94, he painted a portrait of the Emir of Kuwait, Al Sabah, and was awarded the Order of Thanksgiving. He painted portraits of the Sultans of Brunei and Oman and was therefore nicknamed "Painter of the Sultans" in the press. In 1994, he visited President Süleyman Demirel privately and presented a painting titled "Atatürk and İnönü in the War of Independence" in Çankaya Mansion.