Organized by Bursa Culture, Art and Tourism Foundation (BKSTV) on behalf of the Metropolitan Municipality, the 19th International Bursa Karagöz Puppet and Shadow Play Festival started with the Karagöz-Hacivat show.
The International Bursa Karagöz Puppet and Shadow Play Festival, whose goal is to introduce the traditional Turkish shadow art Karagöz, to create an international cultural and artistic sharing and communication environment, and to develop friendship between countries through these arts, met with art lovers for the 19th time this year. Russia, Spain, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Albania, Moldova and Turkey at the festival organized with the support of Bursa Culture, Art and Tourism Foundation's UNIMA (International Union of Puppet and Shadow Play) National Center and Karagöz and Puppet Plays Research and Application Center (KARAKUM). 18 teams will perform 34 shows. The festival, which was eagerly awaited by puppetry and shadow play enthusiasts, was opened with a ceremony at the Tayyare Cultural Center. Especially to the opening ceremony, where the children showed great interest and the hall was completely filled; Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş, Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Dr. Kamil Özer and AK Party Provincial Chairman Davut Gürkan also attended.
Let our children grow up with art
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş, in her speech at the opening ceremony, said that they organize different activities in order to grow children with art, sports and cultural activities. Stating that they carry out activities in every field from summer-winter sports schools to theater and cinema activities for children, Mayor Aktaş said, “Bursa is a city of history and culture. It is the milestone of our ancient civilization. We have serious values. Hacivat-Karagöz is one of our most prominent features. I would like to thank those who contributed to the transformation of this value into a festival. I would like to thank Bursa Culture, Art and Tourism Foundation, which organized the festival, and Uludağ College, our main sponsor.”
Uludağ University Karagöz and Puppet Games Research and Application Center Director Dr. Faculty Member İbrahim İmran Öztahtalı said, “Bursa; It is an important jewel with its many brands and many doors opening to the world. As Uludağ University, we established the Karagöz and Puppet Games Research and Application Center, aiming to share these values in the international arena. We aimed to put Karagöz puppet and shadow plays on an academic basis, to make world-class research and to introduce Bursa to the world.”
UNIMA Turkey National Center President Enis Ergün stated that they prepared very good shows during the festival, that the colorful world of Karagöz will be presented to the audience and that special workshops will be held for both children and adults, and thanked everyone who contributed to the preparation of the festival.
Karagöz and puppet artists Hüseyin Bağlar, Duygu Tansı and Mahmut Hazım Kısakürek, who lost their lives since the last festival, were also not forgotten. President Aktaş presented plaques to Bağlar's daughter Nihan Bağlar and Tansı's wife Halide Oya Tansı to commemorate the day.
By the way, the opening of the 19th International Bursa Karagöz Puppet and Shadow Play Festival was also the scene of an example of the ahi-order tradition. Bursalı Karagöz artists Seçkin Güneş and Osman Ezgi were tied in loincloths on stage by their master Şinasi Çelikkol, according to the principles of ahi-order.
After the speeches, the festival started with the shadow play 'Salıncak' by Hasan Mert Karakaş, the youngest Karagöz Artist from Bursa. The festival will last until 19 December and the shows can be watched at the Tayyare Cultural Center, Barış Manço Cultural Center, Panorama 1326 Conquest Museum, Mete Cengiz Cultural Center and Karagöz Museum.
