Socrates's Exclusive Portrait Painting

Bekir Salim is a Turkish artist, poet, singer, columnist, and TV radio broadcaster. Born in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1964, Salim joined the Turkish army as an Infantry Lieutenant in 1986. After serving for 11 years, he voluntarily retired from the army in 1997. Salim grew up with art, music, and poetry since he was 6. Winner of several awards in painting and poetry in nationwide contests in Turkey, Salim has served as a judge in a number of competitions, including the Konya Ashiks Festival with other masters of music for seven years in a row, and experience he holds most dear. He was also on the same board of judges with George Zamfir, one of the best living musicians of the world known as the Master of the Pan Flute, who composed the famous “The Lonely Shepherd.” The most recent developments in his home country of Turkey brought his path to the United States of America where he was given political asylum for the prosecution he had in Turkey against him and many others who opposed the Government of Turkey. While in Turkey, Bekir Salim was a columnist at the best seller daily in Turkey, Zaman Newspaper. He was also a producer at one of the largest Media Outlets, Samanyolu Television and Burc FM Radio station. He was known as a fierce opponent of the anti-democratic actions of the Turkish Ruling Party and the President. Just because he was defending Democracy and Human Rights in his country, he had to make a decision to move to the US and save his life as well as his family’s, fearful of government reprisal. In his prime years, he had to leave everything he had built and worked for and his family and loved ones behind to make sure that he was not killed or jailed for his ideas and belief about Turkey and its Democracy. He was separated from his wife and children for a long time until he was granted asylum in the USA. He has resided in PA, NJ, and NY during these years before making Chicago his new home. He now has a studio in Chicago where he continues painting, making music, and writing his books and articles. Bekir Salim writes satirical poems. HisTaşÜstündeTaş (Rock over Rock) is the title of his two-volume poetry book. He has at least ten more unpublished literary works. In 2014, Bekir Salim served at the Turkish Parliament’s Committee of Culture and Art, and while serving there he painted three giant wall pictures, including the 15,000 sq. ft panoramic “Anatolian Civilization Road” picture in the parliament building.