Kutluğ Ataman Turkish, 1961

Kutluğ Ataman (Istanbul, Turkey, 1961)

Born in 1961 in Istanbul, the son of a diplomat, he became involved in documenting the events of the 1980 coup in Turkey, which led to his imprisonment and torture. After his release, in 1981, he relocated to California, where he earned a degree in Filmography from the University of California in 1985. 

His debut film, “Dark Waters” (Karanlik Sular), released in 1994, received recognition from five different institutions, including the Istanbul International Film Festival. Continuing his exploration of identity and gender concepts, in 1997, he directed an eight-hour film, “Kutluğ Ataman’s semiha b. Unplugged”, showcased at various biennials and festivals. He also created the movie “Women Who Wear Wigs”, featuring four simultaneous stories of Turkish women, generating a cacophony of sounds and images.

In 2003, he was named "Artist of the Year" by the London Observer, and in 2004, he won the Carnegie Prize at the Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, one of the most prestigious awards in American filmmaking.

In 2009, he became the president of the jury at the Istanbul International Film Festival.

Ataman centres his artistic exploration on the convergence of cinema and art, investigating identity – collective or individual, historical or geographical – not as a product of given truths but rather as a result of human cultural activity.

His works have been presented at Documenta (2002), the Biennale in Venice (1999), São Paulo (2002, 2010), Berlin (2001), and Istanbul (1997, 2003, 2007, 2011). He has participated in numerous art shows over the years, including “The Enemy Inside Me” at the Istanbul Modern, Mesopotamian Dramaturgies at MAXXI in 2010, and exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, the Lentos Kunstmuseum in Linz, Küba, and Artangel. In late 2011, a documentary about Ataman's life, directed by filmmaker Metin Çavuş, was released.

In 2013, the artist announced a creative hiatus, completing only the video sculpture “The Portrait of Sakip Sabanci” in the following two years. His return to the scene occurred in 2014 with the film "The Lamb", presented at the Special Panorama of the Berlinale. In 2015, Ataman founded the Palanga Art and Architecture Farm (PAAF) in Erzincan, Turkey, where – with the slogan “from agriculture to culture” – commissioned award-winning art and architectural projects while experimenting with environmentally responsible farming methods. In 2019, he was named "Employer of the Year" by Arkitera for this initiative.

In 2022, his film "Hilal, Feza and Other Planets" received numerous awards, including the Eurimages Award at Rome Film Festival and the Cinefoundation Atelier selection at Cannes Film Festival. 

His works are featured in international collections, including at the MoMA in New York, the Tate Modern in London, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary in Vienna, the Dimitris Daskalopoulos Collection in Athens, the Istanbul Modern in the Turkish capital, and the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.

 At present, the artist resides and works between London and Istanbul.