Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication Department of Cartoon and Animation hosted a talk titled “From the World of Ex-libris.” The guest of the talk was Prof. Dr. Martin R. Baeyenes from the Graphic Department of the Ghent Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium. Baeyenes stated that he gives great importance to nature in his works and strives to achieve a perfect harmony between technology and nature.
The program was moderated by Prof. Dr. Hasip Pektaş, Head of the Department of Cartoon and Animation.
“They Prefer Not to Deviate from Traditions”
Prof. Dr. Baeyenes stated that he made his first ex-libris under his teacher's compulsion, using the letterpress technique: “At a meeting I attended where I presented an abstract tree engraving, no one showed interest in my style. It was quite frustrating for a young artist. My experiences a few years later yielded the same results. From my experiences, I concluded that what is new always frightens the public. It was very clear that traditional techniques were adhered to. That's why I'm trying to lead the way for young ex-libris artists so they don't experience the same negative outcomes.” he said.
“The Word Ex-libris is Universal Outside the Latin Alphabet”
Explaining what ex-libris is, Baeyenes said: “We paste an ex-libris on the first page of a book to indicate the owner of the book. We use graphic techniques to create an ex-libris. Therefore, we call ex-libris small graphics or mini prints. Mostly, on an ex-libris, we use the word ex-libris, the name of the book's owner, or an expression meaning ‘from his/her library’ along with their initials. The word ex-libris is universal in countries that do not use the Latin alphabet.” he stated.
“The Most Loving Thing is a Book”
Prof. Dr. Baeyenes emphasized that “The task of designing and creating ex-libris is a beautiful and interesting impulse,” stressing that text and image should form a harmonious composition in ex-libris. Baeyenes, stating that the artist should pay attention not only to the characteristics of the book owner but also to the artistic level of the ex-libris design, said; “The most loving printed thing in the world is a book. A book always survives because of its good relationship with its owner.” he spoke.
“Don't Turn Your Back on the Wind You Face”
Baeyenes, referring to the fact that new paths can always be discovered and all possibilities should be explored; “Young artists and designers can find their place in the design world, provided they are ready to search. Collectors, please do not turn your backs on the new winds that come your way.” he said.