Research Article

SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS

Volume: 1 Number: 2 July 9, 2024
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SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS

Abstract

This study investigates the role of textiles in interiors and its effects on social life with the modernist aesthetic understanding in the world and Turkey, with a focus on Sümerbank company textiles, which was the government’s leading textile manufacturer. The period of modernization had effects that completely changed the understanding of interior design in Turkey. The textiles of the period had a significant impact on the aesthetic preferences and the understanding of design of the society, whose lifestyle and mentality have changed completely in the newly industrialized country. The aim of this study is to examine modern Turkish textiles, which are one of the important elements of interiors with its different usage areas, pattern types, manufacturers, and its effects on social structure, and to establish its connection with today. Methods include analysis of images collected from publications and films of the period through archival work to understand the aesthetic tastes and interior textiles. With these analyzes the pattern selections were compared with Sümerbank fabric patterns produced in the same years. Findings show that, modern textiles have been as effective as modern furniture. Political changes and, accordingly, the country's external relations have affected the design as well as the public's perspective on design. The vibrantly colored dynamic designs in the textile designs of the post-1980s show that capitalism has increased its influence in the introverted country. The egalitarian structure of the company Sümerbank, which considers the benefit of the public, has caused the trends of the period to be felt in everyone's home. It has been observed that the designs of interior fabric patterns and Sümerbank fabric patterns reached through the archive work have changed according to the changes in social life and popular trends in the world. The reflection of these changes on the interior has been slower than the fashion. Methods include analysis of images collected from publications and films of the period through archival work to understand the aesthetic tastes and interior textiles. Since the films and popular magazines are significant means of publication in which modern life is promoted in that periods, these images show the modern Turkish interiors in a realistic way. With these analyzes the pattern selections were compared with Sümerbank fabric patterns produced in the same years. In addition, how the effect of the political changes of the country on the social structure is reflected in domestic and public interiors, and the relationship and differences of these two areas are examined through these textile patterns. Findings show that, modern textiles have been as effective as modern furniture in a country whose social structure has completely changed by trying to move away from tradition. Political changes and, accordingly, the country's external relations have changed the design as well as the public's perspective on design. The vibrantly colored dynamic designs in the textile designs of the post-1980s show that capitalism has increased its influence in the introverted country. The egalitarian structure of the company Sümerbank, which considers the benefit of the public, has caused the trends of the period to be felt in everyone's home by offering home textiles as well as clothing fabrics. It has been observed that the designs of interior fabric patterns and Sümerbank fabric patterns reached through the archive work have changed according to the changes in social life and popular trends in the world. The reflection of these changes on the interior has been slower than the fashion. In Turkish interiors, it has been observed that the traditional, representative patterns turn into non-representative and abstract patterns by passing through which stages with the effect of modernism.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Design Studies Program-Graduate School

Ethical Statement

This article is extracted from the master thesis entitled “The Role of Textiles in Shaping the Modernist Aesthetic in Turkish Interiors: The Case of Sümerbank”, supervised by Prof. Dr. Deniz Hasırcı (Master’s Thesis, İzmir University of Economics, İzmir, 2023). This paper has been presented at the 4T Conference, organized by Işık University and selected to be published in the proceedings.

Thanks

The authors wish to thank, Ender Yazgan Bulgun, Elvan Özkavruk Adanır, and Dilek Himam, for their kind permissions and support in the use of the TUDITA (Baskı Desenleri Tarihi: Sümerbank Örneği 1956- 2001. İzmir: IZKA) Archive at Izmir University of Economics.

References

  1. Baines, E. (1994). Modernism in textiles and wallpaper. Octopus.
  2. Baydar, O. (1999). Bilanço 98 yazı dizi: 75 yılda çarklardan chiplere. Ekonomik ve Toplumsal Tarih Vakfı.
  3. Beecher, M.A. (1997). The language of beauty and the modern interior: an approach to aesthetic criticism. Journal of Interior Design, 23(1), 61-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1668.1997.tb00242
  4. Boydell, C. (1996). Textiles in the modern house. Twentieth Century Architecture, No. 2, 52-64.
  5. Bozdoğan, S. (2001). Modernism and nation-building: turkish architectural culture in the early republic University of Washington Press.
  6. Bozdoğan, S. & Akcan, E. (2012). Turkey, modern architectures in history. Reaktion Books.
  7. Bulgun, E., Adanır, E. & Himam, D., A. (2015). TUDİTA: Türkiye baskı desenleri tarihi: Sümerbank örneği 1956- 2001. IZKA.
  8. Eryılmaz, C., (2023). The role of textiles in shaping the modernist aesthetic in Turkish interiors: the case of Sümerbank. [Unpublished master thesis]. Izmir University of Economics.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Interior Architecture , Architectural History, Theory and Criticism

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

July 6, 2024

Publication Date

July 9, 2024

Submission Date

February 5, 2024

Acceptance Date

May 8, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 1 Number: 2

APA
Eryılmaz, C., & Hasırcı, D. (2024). SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS. Işık Üniversitesi Sanat, Tasarım Ve Mimarlık Dergisi, 1(2), 40-57. https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER
AMA
1.Eryılmaz C, Hasırcı D. SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS. Işık JADA. 2024;1(2):40-57. https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER
Chicago
Eryılmaz, Cemre, and Deniz Hasırcı. 2024. “SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS”. Işık Üniversitesi Sanat, Tasarım Ve Mimarlık Dergisi 1 (2): 40-57. https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER.
EndNote
Eryılmaz C, Hasırcı D (July 1, 2024) SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS. Işık Üniversitesi Sanat, Tasarım ve Mimarlık Dergisi 1 2 40–57.
IEEE
[1]C. Eryılmaz and D. Hasırcı, “SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS”, Işık JADA, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 40–57, July 2024, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER
ISNAD
Eryılmaz, Cemre - Hasırcı, Deniz. “SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS”. Işık Üniversitesi Sanat, Tasarım ve Mimarlık Dergisi 1/2 (July 1, 2024): 40-57. https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER.
JAMA
1.Eryılmaz C, Hasırcı D. SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS. Işık JADA. 2024;1:40–57.
MLA
Eryılmaz, Cemre, and Deniz Hasırcı. “SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS”. Işık Üniversitesi Sanat, Tasarım Ve Mimarlık Dergisi, vol. 1, no. 2, July 2024, pp. 40-57, https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER.
Vancouver
1.Cemre Eryılmaz, Deniz Hasırcı. SÜMERBANK TEXTILES AND THE MODERNIST AESTHETIC IN TURKISH INTERIORS. Işık JADA [Internet]. 2024 Jul. 1;1(2):40-57. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA97AG33ER