Jose Sancho Exhibition: A Story of Art and Friendship

31/05/2017

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Last week, I shared with you the final stages of my tenure as Costa Rican Honorary Consul, emphasizing my unwavering commitment to this beautiful country, steeped in the culture of Pura Vida. This week, I’ll share our adventure of bringing sculptor Jose Sancho, one of the most prominent representatives of this vibrant, peaceful, and positive culture, to our country’s art lovers.

I am always asked how I became Honorary Consul of Costa Rica. I always tell the following story, as it appears in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ – Question 10) section of my blog:

“I had no interest or connection to Costa Rica. Becoming an honorary consul was a complete coincidence. I can say it was thanks to my father. My Costa Rican adventure began when a high-ranking Costa Rican bureaucrat my father had met while he was undergoing cancer treatment in Houston visited us in Istanbul. After meeting him, he began introducing me to his close circle and network of connections. Then, a woman I didn’t fully grasp at first, whom I later learned was the Costa Rican President’s chief advisor, invited me to their country. During a trip to the United States, I was curious and decided to visit Costa Rica for a couple of days to see the country. I did this and attended an event at the President’s home on my first evening there. That evening, the President told me, “You will actively represent us in Türkiye. We need someone. Would you do this for us?” he asked. “It would be an honor,” I said. Upon hearing this, President Oscar Arias, a prominent figure in Latin America and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for disarming guerrillas in Central America, sent an official letter to then-President Abdullah Gül regarding my appointment, initiating the process.

The exhibition idea was born from an encounter

Ana Maria Herrera, the chief advisor to former President Oscar Arias, mentioned above. On that first visit to Oscar Arias, she also introduced me to Jose Sancho. That was exactly 10 years ago, in 2007. During our conversation, Ana Maria said, “Serhan, I will also introduce you to a prominent Costa Rican artist.” I said, “I’m happy to.” Two days later, we went to Jose Sancho’s house as a family. I say “family” because we were accompanied by his wife and daughter, both of Swedish origin. When we arrived at Jose Sancho’s house, located in a forested area in Escazu, a neighboring city of the capital San Jose, I was filled with admiration. He was creating and exhibiting his artwork in his workshop, nestled in nature and home to delightful conversations. It was a truly inspiring space. That evening, we had a lovely dinner at his home. Jose Sancho is a very calm and positive person. He’s essentially an introvert, but if he loves you, he opens his heart and shares his knowledge and experience with the utmost sociability. That evening, when we first met, Ana Herrera and her family, Jose Sancho, and I continued our cheerful conversation throughout the evening. I didn’t speak Spanish at the time. Jose Sancho understood and spoke English, occasionally saying something in English, but he didn’t prefer it. I told him, translating, “I feel your Pura Vida culture in this workshop of yours, and it’s been a blessing to me. I hope to see the same positive culture in my country. I’d love to bring someone like you to Türkiye. What would you think of an exhibition in Türkiye?”

He beamed, saying, “It would be wonderful. I’d love to come to Türkiye.” Afterward, he showed me some of the artwork he’d created using Afyon marble. After that unforgettable evening, we agreed to see each other again next year when I returned. At the end of that art-filled evening, I also purchased the following work. It has been in my living room for nearly 10 years:

It is of course debatable with what psychology I adopted the figure of a pregnant woman at that time 🙂 What attracted me the most were the perfect lines in the statue.

The Istanbul Modern Experience

The following year, in 2008, when I returned to Costa Rica, Jose Sancho, Ana Maria Herrera, and their family flew in hastily to the Punta Islita Hotel, located in one of the pristine bays of Guanacaste, one of the most magnificent places in Costa Rica in my opinion. He was delighted that I had started speaking Spanish. After 2008, he spoke only Spanish to me. Afterward, I visited him occasionally when I went to Costa Rica. I would remind him from time to time, “Hopefully, we’ll see each other in Türkiye.”

About two and a half years ago, I received an email from Ana Maria. “Good news: Jose Sancho and his family are coming to Türkiye. Can you help?” I said, “Of course, with great pleasure.”

Jose Sancho and his family arrived. By family, I mean his daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, all together in Istanbul. As I had planned, I made appointments at Pera Museum and Istanbul Modern. First, we went to Istanbul Modern with Jose Sancho and his family. Since I was already a supporter of Istanbul Modern and had previously organized a weekend event at Istanbul Modern for the screening of Costa Rican director Hilda Hidalgo’s film “Del Amor y Otros Demonios,” I was able to easily arrange the appointment. However, after a pleasant conversation, I asked, “So, what can we do together now?” and the atmosphere suddenly changed; they started throwing the ball to the wind. I insisted on explaining that Türkiye needed “Pura Vida” culture and that an exhibition by the prominent Latin American artist Jose Sancho would build bridges with that region. I received negative feedback, saying, “Actually, that’s not our style.” Being someone who doesn’t hide my opinions, I asked, “So, what’s your style?” I didn’t receive a satisfactory answer. The words sounded absurd. To avoid further pressing the issue, I dropped the subject and ended the meeting. Frankly, as in every sector and professional group, individuals called curators in Türkiye prioritize their personal priorities. They can act entirely subjectively. It doesn’t matter.

The Pera Museum and Özalp Birol Difference

I think it was time for us to choose the Pera Museum, which was a better alternative. We had previously met Özalp, the General Manager of the Pera Museum. I made an appointment and visited him with Jose Sanho and his family. Özalp welcomed us with his usual courtesy. After a pleasant conversation, he said he would get back to us. The discussions continued, and details were exchanged. A few months later, we received a positive response.

The Pera Museum

Following this positive response, the feverish preparations continued. After a period of analysis, Begüm Akkoyunlu from the Pera Museum visited Costa Rica. She visited Jose Sancho on-site, and together they developed the concept and many details. The exhibition was titled “Erotic Nature.”

Frankly, we didn’t waste any time seeking external sponsors for logistics; we channeled our renewable energy company, EkoRE. Ultimately, it was fitting that EkoRE, whose mission is to promote renewable energy, a key element in the fight against climate change, act as the transportation sponsor for this nature-focused exhibition. EkoRE reached an agreement with Bergen Transportation, a company specializing in the transportation of artworks, ensuring a smooth completion of this process.

The initial positive atmosphere continued to grow. Communications planning was completed. A press release was prepared, including all print and digital materials.

Here is the cover of the prepared exhibition catalogue and the accompanying introduction:

I would also like to share the biography of Jose Sancho, included in the prepared catalogue:

Jose Sancho Biography

“José Sancho, one of Costa Rica’s most important sculptors, pursues a wide range of themes in his work, but nature is his indispensable starting point. His works, produced in his unique conceptual style, are a prime example of the dialogue that can be established between the local and the global, the particular and the universal.

While inspired by artists such as Picasso and Brancusi, he tends less towards abstraction, and his nature-inspired depictions are in constant dialogue with the spaces in which they are installed. Many of his works are rooted in their environment, thus blending into a timeless space evocative of the universe, capturing the connection between the individual and the universal.

Influenced by the Hispanic and pre-Columbian art of his homeland and presenting this influence with a new interpretation, the artist masterfully utilizes diverse materials: wood, granite, marble, bronze, iron sheets, and found objects enable him to recreate his animal forms and countless representations of femininity.

José Sancho was born on 18 April 1935, in Puntaneras, Costa Rica. He graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Costa Rica’s School of Economic Sciences. Beginning in 1962, Sancho worked at leading institutions specializing in economics and public administration in Central America, Europe, and the United States. His interest in painting and sculpture blossomed into a professional career in the early 1970s. In 1974, he chose sculpture, and an inseparable bond was forged. To hone his technique, he worked in sculpture studios in Italy, Romania, Mexico, Argentina, and Spain. He has exhibited his works in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, winning numerous awards. His monumental sculptures are exhibited in public spaces across Costa Rica, and he continues to produce continuously in his studio, which also serves as his home in Escazú.

You can experience “Erotic Nature” until August 6th.

On the evening of 24 May, the night before the exhibition, I took Jose Sancho, his family, and everyone else out to dinner. Ninoska, with whom I worked at the Honorary Consulate, and her husband, Ercan, also accompanied us. A total of 15 of us had a delightful dinner at Duble Meze. We chatted about old times and shared our expectations for the next big day. We ended the evening on a very pleasant note.

A photo from dinner. The Costa Ricans and our hosts are in high spirits.

Then opening day arrived. After refreshments at 9:30 a.m. at the Pera Cafe, the exhibition press conference began at 10 a.m. in the Pera Museum Auditorium.

Picture taken during the refreshment section

Özalp invited me, then the Costa Rican ambassador, to the podium to give brief speeches. Following this, Jose Sancho, Leonardo Sancho, General Manager of the Jose Sancho Foundation, curator Mária Enriqueta Guardia Yglesias, and the curator of the other exhibition (Doublethink: Double Vision Exhibition) spoke, respectively.

A photo taken at the press conference held at the opening.

I would also like to share the conversations between Leonardo Sancho, General Manager of the Jose Sancho Foundation, and me:

https://www.facebook.com/fundacion.josesancho/videos/1347973625287772/?autoplay_reason=gatekeeper&video_container_type=1&video_creator_product_type=0&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0

After the speeches, the exhibition was open until noon. An opening ceremony was held that evening, starting at 6:30 PM. Guests toured the exhibitions. At 8:30 PM, everyone involved in the exhibitions dined together at Divan Brasserie on İstiklal Street.

The next day, at 6:30 PM, Jose Sancho and his art advisor and curator, Mária Enriqueta Guardia Yglesias, gave another detailed talk. It was a wonderful session about Latin American art, not just Jose Sancho’s art. This event, typically attended by faculty and students from university art departments, lasted until 7:30 PM.

After this event, everyone embraced and said their goodbyes. I was delighted to see the professionals at Pera Museum internalize these works and embrace Jose Sancho and his entourage. Meanwhile, I can say that the character, knowledge, and experience of Pera Museum General Manager Özalp Birol have been reflected in all of the Pera Museum staff. We worked in close collaboration with the entire museum team to complete the necessary tasks. Each member of the team was exceptionally professional and effortless for us.

I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank Özalp Birol, Begüm Akkoyunlu, Tania Bahar, Fatma Çolakoğlu, Buşra Mutlu, Irmak Wöber, Zeynep Ögel, and the entire Pera Museum team, whose names I cannot mention here, for their hard work.

I would also like to share some images from this wonderful exhibition, prepared with everyone’s hard work. Artworks:

The picture we all took together:

You have until August 6th to visit this exhibition, which opened on 25 May. The exhibition also received a lot of positive press coverage. The weekend before the exhibition, Costa Rica’s La Nacion newspaper, which can be described as the Hürriyet newspaper, featured a full-page spread about the exhibition in Türkiye. I’d also like to share some of the coverage from home:

Pera Museum Website: http://peramuzesi.org.tr/Sergi/Jos%C3%A9-Sancho/207