Cem Öztürk

Cem Öztürk was born in 1981 and lives and works in Istanbul. He holds degrees in communication studies and graphic design. Inspired by medieval engravings and traditional woodcuts, he immerses himself in his studio in an obscure and archaic visual world, which he brings to life in limited editions using linocut and woodcut techniques. Cem combines motifs from old children’s books—which he views as symbols of innocence and naivety—with the grotesque imagery of a Freudian nightmare. The synthesis of these two elements creates the otherworldly and enigmatic visual world that defines his art. Cem begins the process of bringing his motifs to life with a charcoal drawing. He transfers this onto the surface of the linoleum plate, then refines the image before transferring it to paper using his traditional linoleum printing press.