İstanbul Sanat Dergisi / Sayı 9

26
INTERVIEW
Yazar
Pınar Baltacı
Spring has come to the 39 Kalamış
Portuguese artist David Arranhado colored the
exterior facades of 39 Kalamış Marina Hotel.
We interviewed with David about his mural artworks
and also talked about Istanbul.
project and paint the front and sides of the hotel, as well as
some additional rooms! It was a great experience, and I am
really proud of how it turned out. I usually only realize how
obsessed I get with a work, after I am done with it!
İstanbul Sanat | Ekim / Kasım / Aralık 2022 / 09
Can you introduce yourself for our readers? How do you
describe your artworks and techniques?
I am David Arranhado. I come from Lisbon, Portugal, but I
have been living in Bahia, Brazil since 2009. My academic
background is Conservation and Restoration, where I was
able to study some of the best Portuguese masters of wall
painting; “Nome Da Escola”
My work is a blend of techniques that I come across everywhere
I go. Since I am out prompting my work in different
places some parts of the year, I always end up discovering
something new I want to try. In the early days, I was working
in big projects like restoring palaces and churches. The
focus at the time was mostly restoration, but that gave me
an incredible amount of experience that I carried to my
paintings at first, and then the outside murals. The end goal
wherever I paint is to create art that belongs there, and is in
harmony with its environment.
What is your reason for visiting Istanbul? How long have
you been here?
My first time in Istanbul was in 2019 and I loved it. The art
scene is so vibrant, and the city is a melting pot of cultures
and traditions. It is a city I really enjoy coming back.
How did you find the 39 Gallery?
I have been in touch with the owners since I worked here in
2019, so I received an invitation to create a new collection
to showcase here during October. The exhibition is called
Golden Oasis, and I think it adds another element to the
original concept of the hotel without disrupting its balance.
One thing leads to another, and we decided to add another
Could you tell us about the project you realized in 39
Kalamış Marina Hotel?
I met Münteha Adalı and Ahu Serter when I was showcasing
my work in Lisbon, in 2019 at Arroz Estudios. I think
both of them must have really liked my work, because we
have been working on a few projects since then! That year
I traveled to Istanbul for the first time, to work in 39 Kalamış.
I had the opportunity to paint some of the walls and
interiors here, including a couple of suites. It was a memorable
experience due to the size of the project, and it is
definitely a highlight in my portfolio.
The main theme at the hotel was the concept of an Urban
Oasis. If you visit the interiors, there are places like the
stairways where you can feel overwhelmed by the trees
in all sides, and the play on the perspective! In one of the
rooms, I used golden leaves to paint portions of the walls.
It’s a technique I have been perfecting for almost 15 years,
and I knew it would be great as a complement to the luxurious
interiors of the hotel.
How did you find Istanbul as an artist? What are your
comments about Kadıköy and Istanbul?
Istanbul is always a source of inspiration. There are so many
different histories and backgrounds in this city. The people
have been super welcoming, making my visits here quite
enjoyable. Kadıköy almost feels like home! I love going for a
walk, and just taking a seat at some place contemplating the
movement of the area. Art supplies are abundant as well,
and that’s always something that keeps any artist happy!
The art scene here is also very dynamic, and it’s a great location
to explore new markets I would not have access to
in Brazil.