Invitation card for the exhibition, based on part of a poster by Bulent Erkmen The exhibition Afisler - contemporary posters from Turkey that runs at the Museum fuer Gestaltung in Zuerich from September 21 to December 20, 1999, offers a rare glimpse into a world unknown to most of us. This obscurity is surprising in view of the high international reputation of some turkish designers like Yurdaer Altintas, or Bulent Erkmen, who speaks at the coming AGI Seminar in Zuerich and received the bronze medal at last years International Poster Biennale in Warsaw. Also the turkish society of graphic designers Grafikerler Meslek Kurulusu plays a very active role and organizes, for example, a yearly graphic design competition in Istanbul where it awards the Ihap Hulusi prize. By the way, Ihap Hulusi, well known for his travel posters, and one of the earliest turkish graphic designers, was a student of Ludwig Hohlwein.

Savas Cekic, 1992 Read, read! Client: Istanbul City Administration

Yurdaer Altintas, 1999 In memoriam Alfred Hitchcock Client: International Film Festival Istanbul

Ugurcan Ataoglu, 1997 The best Poster for the best book designs

Bulent Erkmen, 1991 Exhibition poster, B, 8 artists, 8 works Client: Kunstsalon AKM, Istanbul

Savas Cekic, 1996 Theater poster for the play Ayyy...Hitler Client: Theater Bakirkoy, Istanbul

Ahmet Naci Firat, 1996 Hold your breath, you will soon need it Client: Cumhuriyet newspaper

Savas Cekic, 1998 Bergama must not become Simmitville Client: Sel Publishing House, Istanbul

Ahmet Naci Firat, 1998 18th exhibition of graphic works Client: Association of Graphic Designers GMK

Bulent Erkmen, 1995 Exhibition poster

Bulent Erkmen, 1995 Client: The International Prison Watch

The exhibition, with 64 posters on display, was organized by Bettina Richter and Kurt Thaler from the museum staff, both longtime Turkey fans. It is open from Tuesday to Friday 1300 - 1630. There is no catalogue but a leaflet with an excellent short introduction to turkish posters, and a list of the exhibits with designers, dates, and translation of titles. Three catalogues from other turkish poster exhibitions are on sale.

Bettina Richter, Kurt Thaler exhibition organizers

Felix Studinka curator of the poster collection

Karl Wobmann, former curator 1972 -1990

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