Ayşegül Yeşilnil, Painter, Fashion Designer, Jazz Singer and Songwriter, Istanbul, Turkey

   

                      Photo by Leyla Diana Gücük - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: "There are struggles in every profession. But if you have a strong belief in the things you’re doing, your power for your struggle is given you by life itself."

BPP: Identity: Who you are? And who you really are?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: She’s on earth but actually living in fairytales and legends. She dreams. She is sewing her long black hair appareled with diamonds that she has borrowed from the stars. She wants to make presents to the world from new pictures and new songs. She is planning to play to skip on the clouds. Even if her age is big, she still wants to be able to look from the depths of her eye as a child. And she wants to share her feelings furthermore…

"Sahmeran" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

BPP: If you could say something important you've learned all these years of your life, to the other people and they were able to listen to you, what would you like to tell them?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil:There should be respect and trust by your side when you meet with your eyes on the mirror. Listen to your inner voice, be yourself, recognize yourself, mean yourself, share your knowledge and leave your own sign. Work for your heart’s richness. Be a good person, behave people equally, and be polite and modest. Protect your innocence. Love and try to increase your love. Smile.

"Griffon woman" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

BPP: What is your real dream, the one that keeps you awake at nights and if one day it will come true, you will feel your heart calm and peacefull?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil:  A life full of health, wealth, confidence, joy, inspiration and peace. My body is healthy and beautiful. People I love are near me, close to me. Everybody is happy. A big garden with great trees. Seashore. My own atelier and gallery in a big, historical stone building. I am painting here, and many people around the world are coming to see the things I’ve done. My paintings are in a lot of museums and auctioneers.

"Bulls" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

My zen paintings, musician paintings, funny sketches and designs are printed on many products and spreading around the world.  I am establishing an academy for gifted kids and young people. Best teachers are teaching there and many new artists raising there.  I am having new album records and new concerts. People listen and sing to my songs. 

Sometimes I am singing with a big orchestra. I am playing piano. Helping people in need while they don’t recognize, especially for education and health. I go to holidays whenever I want and rest, and visit too many countries. I meet many new and great people. Everyday I am being refreshed. This is my “real” dream :)

"Mermaid" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

BPP: How is life for the people in your country today? What do you wish to happen to them and to the people of this planet at large?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: People need welfare, confidence and peace in general. There’s unemployment and income distribution is unjust. People are in a life struggle and they become the slaves of the consumption economy. People become lonelier when technology rises. They are now more far than the sociality and sharing.

"Dragonflies" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil 

"Salamandra Trio" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil 

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: This is not only my country’s but whole world’s problem, a proble

m of humanity. Borders, power and religion wars’ reason is the desire for money. Human beings try to possess the earth for centuries. People forget that they are mortal. They leave but the nature and earth remain although their destruction. Nothing is changing for centuries. People leave and the earth remains. 

I wish that people would be creative, protective, peaceful, social and sharing. I wish they would be after the spiritual values and try for goodness, knowledge and art.

Self portrait - Photo by  Deniz Dener - Image courtesy:Ayşegül Yeşilnil 

BPP: If you had the chance to be a child again, will you choose to do the same life you do?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: I’d like to know the other options? :) I’ve lived the life with the voice and choices of my inner child. I’ve tried to protect my innocence. I am happier living with a pure, childish and joyful feeling rather than getting older. But that would be great if this life meet with the dreams I mentioned on the 3^rd question :)

Self portrait - Photo by Dalya Hazar - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

BPP: Which exactly was the moment you understood what you want to do in your life? How did you feel at this very moment?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: I understood it at the moment after my graduation and quitting my job in a famous fashion company. I felt lighter and happy. That moment was the moment that I recognized I couldn’t be an officer. At that moment I realized that I am a free spirited artist. I’ve decided to protect and improve my artistic character. I took the risk of confidence and money in a period that I needed them both. In years, I’ve found out that I chose the hardest way. But a free will is the most important thing for an artist. 

Ayşegül's  "dreams 1" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül's "dreams 2" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: Nowadays, the painting series “Sacred 1001 Nights Animals” I’ve made with my technique (teachers named it by my name) are displaying in some lectures in high schools and universities. Many people listen to my jazz concerts. I am performing both arts professionally for 25 years. So, that’s why that decision moment was crucial for me.

Self Portrait - photo by Nezih Yeşilnil -  Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Self portrait- Photo by Gülnur Sözmen- image courtesy : Ayşegül Yeşilnil

BPP: Something yours: Do you want to tell us something we didn't ask you until now?

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: I want to share something about miracle and rebirth.

Painting and jazz music created my inner twin character. They’ve grown together and improved. They’ve fed each other. I’ve made them with love. I had hard times but succeed with hope and production. One day, musician Ayşegül woke up and realized that she lost her sense of hearing which followed by a struggle in talking and walking.

"Harmony" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: Then painter Ayşegül hold her hand. In that period that doctors said that would be a miracle to hear again, a serial called “Ayşegül’s Dreams” have born. The illness was named paralysis of inner ear and the painting was the only thing I was able to do. I listened inside on that silent period. I painted myself, with close eyes and animals on my head symbolize cure, power, luck and rebirth. I called the things I need by my paintings like cure, hearing again, borning again. With my intensive hope my sense of hearing arrived at the end of 9^th month.

Self Portrait - image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: At last I had that “miracle”. This hard process took me to Mexico-Campeche-Biennial by UNESCO, to a conference called “miracle” and an exhibition in a Maya temple. “Ayşegül’s Dreams” took me to another world, another dream. There, at the celebration night, I hold microphone for the first time after months. I sang a song with a big Latin orchestra and with many artists from other parts of the world. At there, I had a “rebirth” owing to my dreams and hopes.  

Day & Night - Photo by Fulya Hazar -  image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül Yeşilnil: There are struggles in every profession. But if you have a strong belief in the things you’re doing, your power for your struggle is given you by life itself.

Ayşegül's "Zen Fish" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül's "Zen Sax" - Image courtesy: Ayşegül Yeşilnil

Ayşegül's Peace Angel - Drawing for BPP

If you want to learn more about Ayşegül Yeşilnil,visit:
http://www.yesilnil.com
http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ay%C5%9Feg%C3%BCl_Ye%C5%9Filnil
http://www.yesilnil.com/basindan.htm
http://www.yesilnil.com/press.htm

http://www.myspace.com/aysegulyesilnil

http://www.brooklynartproject.com/profile/AYSEGULYESILNIL
http://www.brooklynartproject.com/video/video/show?id=668279%3AVideo%3A88796


Also, you can watch:

Ayşegül Yeşilnil Art at: 

http://youtu.be/gzPacge7MfA

Ayşegül Yeşilnil  "Sacred 1001 Nights Animals" at:
http://youtu.be/JhmTLRDF5oU

http://youtu.be/E3upBO8ZRw4
http://youtu.be/r93U6lZvvtw

Awards

2004 - İzmir Lovers Platform - (İZSEV), 1969-2004 / 35th Turk Success Awards Committee, Vadide Baha Pars, "Successful Female Leader Honorary Award"

2009 - UNESCO - A.I.A.P / VI. Euro Americano Visual Arts Biennial, "International Master Certificate" / Campeche - Mexico

2010 - Guitar's Wild Children - Life Notes of Music Honorary Awards, "Nükhet Ruacan - Nükhet Aruca Award" 

Personal Exhibitions 

1985 - Painting and Batik Exhibition - Underwater Archeology Museum - Bodrum
1987 - Is - Art Gallery- Ankara
1988 - Capello Art Gallery - Istanbul
1988 - Hobi Art Gallery - Istanbul
1996 - 3rd Europe Jazz Days, Sabancı Art Center- Izmir
1996 - Painting Exhibition / Gramofon Jazz Club - Istanbul
1996 - Rotary Art Club- Istanbul
1997 - Cen Ajans - Istanbul
1998 - Istanblues Jazz Club - Istanbul
1998 - ISE, Art Gallery Istanbul
2003 - Gallery Iki Maymun - Istanbul
2003 - Koleksiyon-Istanbul

2004 - Pera Art Gallery-Istanbul

2004 - Izmir-Art - Izmir

2004 - Bodrum Jazz Days “Jazz Paintings” - Bodrum

2006 - Adnan Franko Art Gallery - İzmir

2009 - Gumusluk Art and Culture House” Aysegul’s Fishes” / Gumusluk – Bodrum

2010 - “Zen Paintings by Aysegul Yesilnil / Assos Athena Festival - Assos Art Gallery / Assos – Canakkale

2011- Aysegul Yesilnil 19^th Personal Painting Exhibition/ Tuzla Municipality Art Gallery / Tuzla-Istanbul

Collective Exhibitions 

1985 - Bodrum Culture and Art Festival, "Turgut Reis" Private Exhibition / Underwater Archeology Museum - Bodrum

1987 - Young Artists Art and Design Exhibition / Gallery BM - Istanbul 

1988 - Mixed Art Exhibition / Kadıköy Art Gallery - Istanbul 

1995 - Mixed Art Exhibition / Istanbul Sea Museum - Istanbul

2003 - "Design is a Talisman" - Project 4L Contemporary Art Museum – Istanbul

2004 - Pera Art Gallery Istanbul

2005 - Pera Art Gallery - Istanbul

2006 - Pera Art Gallery - Istanbul

2006 - Musician Photographs Exhibition - Atelier 83 - Istanbul

2007 - Pera Art Gallery - Istanbul

2009 - Pera Art Gallery - Istanbul

2009 - Contemporary Art / A.R.K Culture Center - Istanbul

2009 - UNESCO-VI Euro American Biennial of Visual Arts in Campeche - Mexico in 2009

2010 - Pera Art Gallery - Istanbul

2011 - Cep Gallery - Istanbul

2011 - Pera Art Gallery - Istanbul

2011 - Gallery Siyah - Istanbul

2011 - 1st International Izmir Art Biennial – Izmir

2011 – Bucharest Municipiului Museum - Romania

Festivals and Concerts

1990 - I. International Bursa Jazz Festival (Bursa)

1994 - IV. International Akbank Jazz Festival (Istanbul)

1996 - II. International KKTC Magosa Festival (KKTC)

1997 - Ayşegül & Nezih Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, Girne (KKTC)

1999 - "Antonio Carlos Jobim" Jazz Concert, Atatürk Kültür Merkezi (Istanbul)

1999 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, (for AKUT ) Babylon (Istanbul)

2000 - 10th International Akbank Caz Festivali, (Istanbul)

2001 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, Babylon (Istanbul)

2001 - I. Afyonkarahisar Caz Festival, (Afyonkarahisar)

2001 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, Girne (KKTC)

2001 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, Is-Sanat (Istanbul)

2001 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Programs, Shaft Blues & Jazz Club (Istanbul)

2003 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, 10.International Istanbul Jazz Festival,  Nardis (Istanbul)

2004 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quartet Jazz Concert, Izmir Sanat (Izmir)

2004 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet Jazz Concert, Bodrum Caz Günleri (Bodrum)

2005 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quartet Jazz Concert, Izmir Sanat (Izmir)

2008 - Aysegul Yesilnil Jazz Concert /Turkish Real Estate Summit 8 (Istanbul)

2009 - Aysegul Yesilnil Quintet  "Rebirth Project", Izmir Metropolitan Municipality "Historical Airgas Factory Culture Center" (Izmir)

2009 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil & Nezih Yeşilnil -10th Marketing Summit -Lütfü Kırdar International Congress and Exhibition Hall (İstanbul)

2010 - The Music’s Help for “Haiti” Babylon Concert Hall (Istanbul) 

2010 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quartet Jazz Concert – 15th Human Capital Summit - Lütfü Kırdar International Congress and Exhibition Hall (İstanbul) 

2010 - 2011 - Ayşegül Yeşilnil Quintet - Nardis, Chapel, Shaft, Naima  (İstanbul)

Photos © by Ayşegül Yeşilnil, Leyla Diana Gücük, Deniz Dener, Dalya Hazar, Nezih Yeşilnil,  Fulya Hazar ,Gülnur Sözmen.

Drawings © by Ayşegül Yeşilnil. All rights reserved