Sabri Berkel in the context of cultural image usage in contemporary Turkish painting art

Mythical beliefs, wars, migrations, etc., belonging to a common past of a society. spiritual unity with rituals and traditions is kept alive. It is known that cultural memory is created by repetitions and reminders, and the development of social consciousness in the masses is known. It is known that cultural memory, customs and rituals are conceptualized and used in everyday life as "cultural image". It is possible to perceive and understand the societies, political, social and cultural structures with cultural images. It is known that the Turkish cultural images which have been traced in the historical process have been expressed in different art areas such as rock paintings, carpets, calligraphy, embroidery and miniature arts since The Hun. These images appear to have served as cultural memory carriers bearing the traces of their time. In Anatolia, it is seen that the diversity of cultural images is different and enriched. For this reason, it can be shown that the cultures of Central Asian Turks coming to Anatolia are protected very well and they are merged with the cultures of Islam, Sel-çuk and past civilizations. In this context, it is seen that the Turks in Anatolia have formed a rich structure by merging with the culture of different civilizations without losing the characteristics of Central Asian Turkish cultures. It is known that this rich cultural structure of Anatolia influences Turkish art. After a while society and self-questioning artists have started to search for their origin and have been able to recognize the Turkish culture and their images have been the subject of their arts. During the contemporary Turkish art period, painters who have renewed themselves have begun to tell on a universal level with their local elements, some local values and traditional art postmodern approach. From a national point of view, they tried to find the way to universal reach, so they became universal in form and content became a national thought. It is known that Sabri Berkel, one of the most important representatives of contemporary Turkish painting, is one of the artists who first applied the idea of being universal and content being national. Its place and tradition seems to be in search of its own source and shape. As a result, it is seen that Sabri Berkel, who constantly renews itself, has almost become a social memory trigger with his art. In this context, it is seen that the use of different expressions and expressions of Turkish cultural images in contemporary Turkish painting art, contemporary Turkish painting art contributes to finding its own identity by entering the progress and development process. Keywords: Culture, İmage, Contemporary Turkish Painting, Sabri Berkel