Archives

by Ilika Karunaratne

Breezing into our lives recently, like a whirlwind was Umran Baradan who is our personality this week. She is one of the most colourful personalities I have ever met; has tremendous energy and is a veritable human dynamo.

Umran was born into an artistic family in Yzmir, Turkey. Her father was a composer and her grandfather a poet. The vibrant and exotic colours she wears, reflect her artistic temperament. She won a scholarship in art to a famous art school in Vienna and started her working and painting with ceramics when she was just 17 years. She visited Dallas a few years later on an invitation to illustrate books and lived there for two years.

During this period, she met Scott Carpenter, an astronaut. But this was obviously not her destiny for, although he followed her to Turkey and proposed, the objections of her parents' saw the end of the romance.

After some time she put this romance firmly behind her and married someone else who was a journalist. "I have a daughter, Jasmin, who is now 30 years old and married to one of Turkey's most popular journalists; She lives in Istanbul".

Umran Baradan today, lives an extremely active life. She is one of Turkey's most famous artists in ceramic tiles; her work of art grace many museums and palaces. Her work is displayed at Yzmir Fine Arts Museum, Bosnia Museum, New Delhi Museums, Jakarta Museums, and The King's Palace in Jordan, Alexandria Bib Phase and Damascus Bibliotec Palace. She has created pieces using traditional designs for mosques and hotels too. "My work is unique, in that I use old motifs of Turkey like a frame. There is only one piece of each design; they are never repeated".

Through her work in art and culture, Umran has been widely recognized as a representative of Turkey at many forums and has thus gained international recognition. She is the first woman in Turkey to have founded a village and struggled against all odds to provide electricity, water and roads to ten villages.

Umran was here as President of the International Women's Solidarity Association. She certainly kept us on our toes during her visit. Cramming as much as she could into each day; wanting to see and absorb everything. She visited the Lanka Mahila Samithi in Kaduwela and their Montessori School. The Colombo Ladies League, where she watched women working on the exquisite shadow work on organdy, which is their speciality.

She also included visits to other women's groups, temples etc., and met H.E. the President, the Foreign Minister, Chairman, Tourist Board, Chairman Tea Board and other Umran was here as a President of the International Women's Solidarity Association. A perfectionist to her fingertips and determined to record every detail, Umran brought with her a photographer from Turkey to video every minute detail of her visit.

Umran believes that the united strength of women can change the world and its thinking. Although she does not claim to be a feminist, she has fought for women all over the world; the elimination of prostitution and the abolition of female circumcision are some of the issues she has identified herself with and fought against.

Umran was most enthusiastic about everything she saw and did here. "It was a long time dream of mine to come here, but I was put off from doing so because of the war. I am so glad I came. I am full of admiration for the scenic beauty and for your people. It is good to be here now when peace seems within sight".

We were keen to know more about the International Women's Solidarity Association, as one reason for Umran's visit was to form a branch here. "Our organization is based on friendship and respect devoid of the barriers of religion and language. We like to promote educational, social and cultural ties between countries".

Umran awards Baradan prizes every two years for painting, sculpture and ceramics. "I work with children at Summer Art School to impart my knowledge to them and help them develop as artists". It is not every talented person who likes to share his or her heritage. Most prefer to keep it to themselves. It is rewarding to share it, as this is a chance to start children off on a voyage of both discovery and self-discovery.

At the moment, Umran is busy with plans for an International Trade Fair in Turkey in March 2003, "I have seen so much talent here that I hope we can introduce some of these products to Turkey as well as Turkish products here". She feels that our tea, too which is the best in the world has not been popularized sufficiently in Turkey. "The packaging and labelling are misleading and people are not aware that it is a product of Sri Lanka". She is determined to correct this and project the image of our country as a tourist paradise and to talk about our products & the talent of our people. Her journey through life is twofold. Art her gift, which she passes on to the young and working towards the general uplift of women everywhere.

Umran has had books published on her work. Looking through one of them, I could see that here was an artist with infinite variety of style. Swans in their pristine glory, other birds flowers and people have all been included. Art to this versatile artist and colourful personality is a kind of love. She has had many international exhibitions in capitals of the world.

One can sense that Umran feels that tranquillity for human beings and a shunning of evil can only be achieved by filling ones' head with beauty. Hence, the need for art in this materialistic world.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager