Rahmi Çöğendez
We know that as Real Collection, alongside private collections, you design art galleries for several institutions. Can you tell us about this as well as about the foreign artists that you have introduced to art lovers?
Real Collection olarak 1As Real Collection, we have been serving the art lovers and collectors of Ankara through private galleries of traditional art since the start of our journey in 1998. Since that time, we’ve added consulting services to individuals, families, and institutional collectors; we’ve also created the Bilkent Art Street project, which has been the catalyst for several other creative projects. To this day, we’ve had the pleasure of showcasing some of the most significant artists of the present day, including Yakup Cem, Hikmet Çetinkaya, who is known for his poppies, Gültekin Serbest, Nihat Evren Derman, Şehriyar Cem, Ali Herischi and many other important luminaries. In addition to all of this, we’ve also had the pleasure of introducing world-famous artists through our partnership with Dear Yulia Ergene (Aya Gallery.) These artists, who have brought joy to Turkish art lovers and collectors, included Valentin Rekunenko, Alexander Melnikov, Sergey Koval, Vilodymyr Melnyk, Christo Yotov, Nikolay Stoev, Angel Gerdzhikov, Sypros Georgas, Alfred Milot, and Cem Başarır.
Are you planning similar projects to the Bilkent Art Street?
The Bilkent Art Street is my first and most important project. In my opinion, this project should be presented everywhere by the talented hands of professional gallerists. In this initiative, the aim is to make art endearing, reachable, and a part of daily life. RC is the general name of our corporate roof. Under this roof, our different projects with various contents and layouts, are being implemented. We are providing gallery service in many venues thanks to Bilkent Art Street. In addition to Bilkent Art Street, under the roof of RC Art Gallery, we have other galleries such as Panora by RC, Fun & Art by RC and Dedeman Art by RC. This last project in particular, Dedeman Art by RC, is currently presented in Park Dedeman Levent Hotel and is scheduled to be spread across the country. This concept of displaying art in hotels, much like a chain of hotel galleries, is the first idea of its kind in Turkey. We hold the record for most art auctions in all of Turkey, with 82 auctions in 5 years. At these auctions, we practice an affordable pricing policy as well as a strategic picking of appropriate pieces. Thanks to this, we’ve managed to flourish in the eyes of art lovers and people who desire to be collectors. Before us, the needs of these people were mostly neglected.
At the Art Shop by RC, we provide online purchasing services of artworks. Under the Academy by RC, we organize training meetings, workshops and conferences for experts in the field. Our events organized in Oman, which serve the purpose of exposing Turkish artists abroad, will start this year. We will share more details on this later through the press. Currently with the assistance of an international brand, we are also working on an art event that will bring Turkish and world artist and collectors together in Istanbul.
Can you tell us about your projects like Kids Gallery and the Auction for Kids, which aims to make kids love art?
These are projects that we’ve created by discussing with art historians, art consultants, critics and communication experts. With distinctive pieces that are created specifically for the likes of children as well as presented at a lower eye level for kids to see, Kids Gallery is one of the first concepts of its kind presented in the world. We aim to shape the future of art collection through these auctions for kids. To ensure that these auctions are relevant, we consulted with psychologists and experts on child psychology for what appeals most to them.
What difference does it make for hotels having private collections?
Just as such a practice would improve the quality of service given in the hotel, guests would have the authentic experience of staying in a museum. This practice is very common in hotels of western countries. The quality of a person and an institution is measured by the assets she owns. Owning art pieces provides special content and worth for hotels.
What would you recommend if I were to start a collection today?
You have to start your collection with a piece that you love while sitting straight ahead of it; you must want to start at it with pleasure. This first piece must be an indispensably authentic artwork. Do not forget, every wall deserves an original.
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