019 Have Belief Have Courage Have Patience - ESRA KIZIR GOKCEN talks about Being An Artist

Esra Kizir Gokcen was born, raised and indeed had begun raising her own family in Istanbul, Turkey. She studied graphic design in Istanbul and taught art to pupils in a small studio. However life changed dramatically for Esra following the sudden and unexpected death of her husband, and four years ago she took the courageous decision to bring her children to London to begin a new life chapter for them all.

 

Esra's story is one of new beginnings, finding her artistic style and developing new techniques. Her life has always been about art and during our chat we explore how moving to London has influenced her style as well as playing such an important part in better understanding people's migration stories, and the more vulnerable stories surrounding globalisation, the refugees crisis, and the forced movement of people across the world.

 

Esra's studio is based at Make Space Studios in Waterloo (London SE1) and she has contributed to a number of recent exhibtions with The Artists' Pool (https://www.theartistspool.co.uk/) held in London and Edinburgh.

 

You can find more about Esra, her Sail to Hope series and more at https://www.esrakizirgokcen.com/

Instagram: ekg_art_studio

Twitter: @EsraKizirGokcen

Facebook: EKG ART

Esra is posting her 365 day art challenge on Instagram :  ekg_365drawings

The tree referred to during our podcast chat is called the Persian Silk Tree Albizia Julibrissin - apparently there's one growing at Kew Gardens.

 

To find out about your podcast host Emma you can go to https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/

 

A big thanks to Mariska Martina at https://www.mariskamartina.com/ for creating our wonderful podcast jingle!

 

And finally, a big thank you to Make Space Studios at http://www.makespacestudios.com/ and Esra for hosting this podcast interview at her studio on Thursday, 24 September 2020.