Berkan Anıl Aksoy, Istanbul, Türkiye

I am hopelessly in love with Istanbul.

By day, I work in finance—a structured world of strict rules and heavy numbers. But the soul is a restless thing. I became an artist because my soul needed a silent escape. I found it with a brush and a handful of colors.

In my youth, I got pulled into hip-hop graffiti culture. At university, I studied finance, not art.

So, how did I nurture my dream? On my own, I learned the stories behind classical paintings, read global art history, and visited European museums. I researched techniques, materials—how paintings were made. Suddenly everything shifted. I realized painting was not about making something look like an object. It was a universe of its own with thousands of dimensions, stories, and layers.

After long, rigid hours in the office, painting became my evening escape—a quiet world I built without even realizing it. Hanging around a local framer’s shop after work, I met dozens of painters. One door opened another.

My style is gentle, melancholic, and poetic. My paintings tell silent stories—fleeting moments caught between a dream and reality. I paint from memories and deep emotions, letting the colors and brushstrokes flow naturally until the picture speaks its own truth.

Then, of course, there’s the Boatman. The Boatman is me. I honestly didn't realize this until a dear friend (and curator of this exhibition) pointed it out to me. He’s always small, quiet, and hidden among the waves or cityscape. That’s how I see myself—a shy observer standing at the edge, watching life pass by. A gentle, Don Quixote-like romantic, who’s trying to find a peaceful way back home.

Why, you may ask, do I call myself ‘İmzasız Ressam’ (The Unsigned Painter)? It originated with an art teacher’s comment: Master painters never signed their canvases until they truly found their artistic identity and mastery. For a long time, I felt I couldn't call myself a painter. The nickname ‘İmzasız’ stuck.

I am so happy you are walking beside the Boatman and me. Our journey continues. Perhaps the next time you spot a lone figure in a small boat amidst the currents of life, you will know his story, too.

With love and regards,
İmzasız