Lot 68: NURI IYEM

NURI IYEM 1915-2005 UNTITLED signed; signed on the reverse oil on canvas 70 by 110cm.; 27½ by 43¼in. Executed circa 1957.

Exhibition Catalogue, Istanbul, Atatürk Kültür Merkezi, Türk Resminde Soyut Egilimler, 1998, p. 80, illustrated in colour

Private Collection, Istanbul

Nuri Iyem was among the founders of Yeniler Grubu, created in 1940 by a group of contemporary Turkish artists who favoured a more collectivist, realist style; this included Avni Arbas, Selim Turan (lots 67 and 85), Ferruh Basaga and Abidin Dino (lot 92). A decade later, between 1950 and 1970, Iyem moved onto geometric abstraction influenced by Cezanne's colour palette and angular planes, Georges Braque's Cubism and Malevich's rectangular and square structures which are all evident in the present work. By bringing together the innovative styles of these celebrated artists and combining it with his personal education and style, Iyem established himself as a leading Turkish artist. Painted circa 1957, Untitled is a particularly rare and key work by Iyem, shedding light on the independent spirit of an influential artist who was not afraid to break the boundaries of self-expression and self-discovery.