The midnight hour! 00.00-01.00hr Tuesday 06 October 2009

NPP (Ned Pamphilon Productions) represent the artworks and activities of English artist Ned Pamphilon: "A girl’s name Pam, a boy’s name Phil, they get it On, bang a gong, that’s a T. Rex song: Ned Pam-phil-on, completely English artist and that’s a genetical fact.”

One & Other can be another step toward the realisation of the Istanbul Bosphorus Rainbow Bridge Project: http://npprainbowbridge.blogspot.com/

04.10.2009 I intend to read out a message from Trafalgar to Turkey. The English follows this Turkish translation.

Mesaj Turkce: Trafalgar’dan Türkiye’ye bir Mesaj

Ben, burada Lord Nelson ile birlikte Londra Trafalgar Meydanı’ndan Türkiye’ye Atatürk’ün sözleriyle sesleniyorum: “Sanatsız kalmış bir milletin hayat damarlarından biri kopmuş demektir.’’

Bu, Türkiye Başbakanı Sayın Tayyip Erdoğan’a, Türkiye Cumhurbaşkanı Sayın Abdullah Gül’e ve 70 milyon Türk halkına açık bir ricadır: Ben, Ned Pamphilon, sizlerin İstanbul Boğaziçi Gökkuşağı Köprüsü Projesi’ne EVET demenizi rica ediyorum ve dünyadaki 7 milyar insana “Yurtta Barış, Dünyada Barış’ mesajını gönderiyorum.”

Şu an burada, Thomas Paine’in resminin yanındayım: İngiltere Thetford, Norfolk’ta doğdu; 18. yüzyılın en çok satan yazarı: Sağduyu, İnsan Hakları ve Aydınlanma Çağı. Amerikan Başkanı Barack Obama, Başkanlık açılış konuşmasında Tom Paine’in sözlerini kullanmıştır. Thomas Paine aynı zamanda köprü tasarımları yapmıştır. Gökkuşağı bir ışık köprüsüdür: 7 renk, evrensel ışık, uyumluluk ve barış simgesidir. Tom’un mesajı şuydu: ‘‘Benim ülkem dünyadır, iyiyi ve doğruyu yapmak benim dinimdir.’’

Ned Pamphilon, Thomas Paine ve Horatio Nelson, East Anglia'da İngiliz at yarışının evi olan Newmarket'te doğdular. Şu an üzerimde, modern Türkiye’nin kurucusu Atatürk’ün Gözleri resmi var. Bugünkü, ünlü İngiliz safkan yarış atlarını İngilizler, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’ndan ithal etti. Long Melford Saddlery www.longmelfordsaddlery.co.uk teşekkürler. Yanımda bir Gökkuşağı At heykeli var ve onu Bury St Edmunds, East Anglia’da bulunan Çocukların Gökkuşağı Hastanesi’ne vereceğim. Trafalgar Meydanı’nda 4. Sütun 1841’de Charles Barry tarafından bir at heykeli yerleştirmek için tasarlandı. Ancak fonlar projeyi tamamlamaya yetmedi. Gökkuşağı Köprüsü projesi için para sorun değildir: Sponsor sağlanmıştır ancak Türkiye’nin izin vermesi gerekir.

Lord Nelson adamlarına mesaj göndermek için renkli bayraklar kullanırdı: İngiltere herkesi göreve çağırıyor diye. Gökkuşağı Köprüsü de renkleri dünyaya şu mesajları göndermek için kullanacak: barış, sanat ve eğitim.

1999’da İstanbul Kapalıçarşı’da çağdaş resim sergisi açtım. Turkish Daily News, Gökkuşağı Köprüsü projesini yayımladı. Türk medyası da projeyi destekledi. Hürriyet Gazetesi’nden Gila Benmayor , Number One FM’den Cem Ceminay; Vatan Gazetesi’nden Leyla Umar; Kanal D Zaga programından Okan Bayulgen desteklerini belirttiler. İngilitere’de sanat eleştirmeni Brian Sewell da projeyi destekliyor.

Gökkuşağı bazı politik ve sosyal hareketler ile bağdaştırıldı ancak doğaya ait olan 7 rengi kimsenin sahiplenmeye hakkı yoktur. Bugün, ben Trafalgar Meydanı’nda, Sky Art TV den dünyaya canlı olarak sesleniyorum. Belki Clive Andersen benimle Gökkuşağı Köprüsü hakkında konuşur; ona, Arsene Wenger’i Gökkuşağı Uluslararası Futbol etkinliği çerçevesinde İstanbul’a davet etmek istiyorum derim. Belki Charles Saachti, Türkçe olarak Bay Saatçi, Gökkuşağı Köprüsü’nü destekler. Tayyip Erdoğan’a Gökkuşağı Köprüsü’nün gerçekleşmesi için bir istekte bulunuyorum: Türkiye’nin 7 sınır komşusu var: Yunanistan, Bulgaristan, Gürcistan, Ermenistan, İran, Irak ve Suriye. Gökkuşağı Köprüsü projesi ile bu barış mesajını tüm dünyaya verelim. Bu, Türkiye’nin 7 bölgesinin gezilip görülmesi için bir davettir. Nuh Peygamber’in Ağrı Dağı’nda gördüğü gökkuşağı gibi ve Mevlana Rumi’nin ‘‘Gel, ne olursan ol, yine gel’’ cümlesi ile dünyaya bir mesaj verebiliriz.

Türkiye, tek yapman gereken, 2 kıtayı birleştiren köprünün alt kısmındaki 7 adet gri paneli, gökkuşağının 7 rengine boyamak, dünyaya barış mesajı vermek ve simitçi, mısırcı, balıkçı, baloncu içinde ekonomik destek olacak çünkü insanlar orada ‘‘Haydi gidelim, Abi, çay molası’’ deyip, birşeyler satın alacaklar.

Burada Marilyn’ in resmi yanımda, yakından bakınca Albert Einstein oluyor. Gökkuşağı ve barış güzel ve iyi kavramlar. Albert Einstein, ‘‘Barış zorla elde edilemez, ancak karşımızdakini anlayarak elde edilir’’ demiştir.

Şu an bu İngiliz sütununda, tüm iyi niyetimle Türk bayrağını elimde tutuyorum. Ne mutlu Türküm diyene. Sizlere, Gökkuşağı Köprüsü’nün mesajı ve Türkiye’nin ulusal sloganıyla veda ediyorum: ‘‘Yurtta Barış, Dünyada Barış.’’

MESSAGE START in English:

I am here with Lord Nelson calling out from Trafalgar Square, London to Turkey in the words of Ataturk: A nation without art has lost one of its lifelines.

This is an open request to the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President Mr. Abdulla Gül and the Turkish nation of seventy million people: say YES to the Istanbul Bosphorus Rainbow Bridge Project; send a message to seven billion people in the world: Peace at home, Peace in the World.

I am here with The Vision of Thomas Paine: he was born in Thetford, Norfolk; the best-selling international author of the 18th century: Common Sense, Rights of Man and Age of Reason. American President Barak Obama used the words of Tom Paine during his inauguration speech. Tom Paine also designed bridges. A rainbow is a bridge of light: 7 colours creating a universal image of light, harmony and peace vibration. Tom’s message was: My country is the world, my religion is to do good.

Ned Pamphilon, Thomas Paine and Horatio Nelson all grew up in East Anglian where Newmarket is the home of British horse racing. I wear my painting of the eyes of Ataturk; the founder of the modern Turkish nation. The iconic English thoroughbred racing horse was bred from horses imported from the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Thanks to Long Melford Saddlery ( www.longmelfordsaddlery.co.uk ) I have a Rainbow Pony with me and wish to reference the Children’s Rainbow Ward Hospital in Bury St. Edmunds in East Anglia. This Trafalgar Square 4th Plinth was designed in 1841 by Charles Barry to display an 'equestrian' statue. Funds were lacking to complete the plan. Money is not a problem for the Rainbow Bridge project: a corporate sponsor will pay at no cost to the Turkish taxpayer. The hurdle is permission from Turkey.

Lord Nelson used colour of flags to send a message to his men: England expects every man to do his duty. Rainbow Bridge will use colour to send out the message to the world: peace, art and education.

In 1999 I opened a contemporary art exhibition in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and The Turkish Daily Times published a reference Rainbow Bridge. There was further support from Turkish media: Gila Benmayor, Hurriyet newspaper; Cem Ceminay, Number One FM; Leyla Umar, Vatan newspaper; Okan Bayulgen, Zaga TV. In England, art critic Brian Sewell supports the project. The rainbow has been associated with political and social movements, yet no one has a right of ownership to the 7 colours of nature. Today I am in Trafalgar Square, live on global Sky Art TV. Maybe Clive Anderson will talk to me about Rainbow Bridge; I can tell him I propose inviting Arsene Wenger to Istanbul for a Rainbow Nations Football activity. Maybe Charles Saachti, Mr. Watch-Maker in Turkish, will support Rainbow Bridge.

Prime Minister Erdogan, let the Rainbow Bridge project become a reality; let Turkey’s seven bordering countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria, join with the wider world and celebrate a message of peace. Let Turkey invite visitors to the seven regions of Turkey; let the rainbow which Prophet Noah saw from the Ark over Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey, send a message to the world in the words of Rumi Mevlana: Come, come whoever you are, however you are, just come!

Turkey, all you have to do is paint 7 coloured pigments upon the 7 grey concrete panels spanning 2 continents, create a peace message for the world and an economic boost for the simitci, the misirci, the balikci, the baloncu, and when your visitors need refreshment, let’s say: Hadi gidelim, abi cay molasi! – Let’s go, tea’s up mate!

I have Marilyn here, look closer, she becomes Albert. The rainbow and peace are beautiful and intelligent concepts. Albert Einstein said “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”

As a gesture of friendship to Turkey, I have the Turkish flag with me on this English plinth. I leave you with the message of Rainbow Bridge and the national slogan of Turkey: Peace at Home, Peace in the world!

MESSAGE END

The concept was initiated c.1997-99. There are 7 concrete panels spanning the underside of the Istanbul Bosphorus Bridge periodically painted with anti-corrosive grey paint. NPP propose instead of grey anti-corrosive paint, the Turks applying the paint could use anti-corrosive paint mixed with 7 rainbow colour pigments. This will create an international peace message for the world. Idealistic maybe, but better than war.

“Gokkusagi koprusune evet diyorum - I say YES to Rainbow Bridge!” Gila Benmayor, Hurriyet 13 March 2005

“Let’s get that bridge painted bro!” Cem Ceminay, Number One 102.5 FM

“Recently the rainbow has become a reasonable symbol for all kinds of associations, parties and companies in the world The idea to paint the bridge is the idea of an inspired person. Since the bridge was built all we ever saw was a dark grey colour, so it must be better to paint it as a rainbow, which joins two continents I really believe in Ned’s project as dreams are the basis for huge constructions... Ned Pamphilon, a British painter who understands and appreciates the relevance of Ataturk, asked me: ‘What would you say if I said I wanted to paint the underneath of the Bosphorus Bridge?’ At first I thought it was a joke, but when I saw his photographs and visuals, I realized it could be a great project.” Leyla Umar, Vatan 15.03.2004

“Ned Pamphilon: A foreigner belonging to Istanbul more than any of us.... There is a voting procedure on his website and 30,000 people voted positively for the Rainbow Bridge.” Cahit Akyol, Hurriyet, 06 March 2004

"Look at this guy! None of us are thinking like he does. Why does it take a foreigner to come to our country and show us such a simple, intelligent idea to promote our country? It's an inspired idea and it will be an inspired decision for our authorities and our country to let this happen.” Okan Bayulgen, Zaga, Kanal D, 13 December 2003

“Pamphilon’s bridge painting project is ridiculous, amazing and impossible. Perhaps that’s why he is so giddy about it. He is already searching for support for the project and mulling over how to surmount practical difficulties. Maybe within the next few years we’ll be seeing some young artist basking in the spotlight as we ferry across the Bosphorus. Who might that be? Pamphilon? Yeah!” Ann Musser-Ercan, Turkish Daily News, 20 June 1999

Background....

1994 sound recorded The Web: making a crop circle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28xPnTvjSOs&feature=channel_page, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyNoHr5arng&feature=channel

Returned to East Anglia in 2008 after more than 10 years being based in Istanbul; developed a reputation for painting the Republic’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Turkish landscape and street scenes. Notable achievements:

- staging the first ever contemporary art exhibition within the the 500 year old Grand Bazaar in 1999 titled 'Istanbul? Yeah!'

- producing the 3.5m x 2m 'Ataturk Gulumsuyor (Ataturk Smiles)' portrait for the Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Conference & Exhibition Centre.

- producing 'Ataturk’s Eyes' for ATU Duty Free at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport; an image used in recent years to adorn the advertising screens atop The Marmara Taksim Hotel to commemorate Turkish national days 29 October and 10 November.

- Turkish construction company STFA commissioning a portrait of Colonel Gadhafi to commemorate a 30 year working relationship with Libya.

- commencing the Learning Turkish project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgKJCkXE03Q&feature=channel

- several years promoting the Rainbow Bridge Project which proposes the painting of the seven rainbow colours upon the seven concrete panels spanning the underneath of Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge to create the longest painting in the world stretching between 2 continents. The project remains on the table awaiting permission for implementation from the Turkish authorities.

"It’s a big, bright, ambitious, multi-coloured project. But, it seems the Turkish authorities aren’t quite ready for a British artist who wants to paint a rainbow from Europe to Asia on the underside of the Bosphorus Bridge. The impact would be dramatic, symbolic and unifying. Mr. Pamphilon clearly has an uphill task in a Muslim country. But he is determined to campaign for the project. If he succeeds he’ll certainly deserve his pot of gold." Eastern Daily Press, Editorial 17 January 2006

Since returning to East Anglia, portraits of 'St. Edmund' and '1456: The Queen, Cathedral & Maundy Full Moon' have been display at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral; Thomas Paine 1737-1809 has been produced for Thetford Library; a song titled ‘My name is Edmund’ has been recorded as part of the campaign for St. Edmund to be recognised as a Patron Saint of England: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyBxihf99VA&feature=channel

The importance of art within the community, whether national or local, can be summarised by Turkey's Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who stated: "A nation without art has lost one its lifelines."

The current goal for NPP is to paint East Anglian iconic figures past and present, landscapes, street scenes and events to create a bank of imagery which East Anglian businesses, individuals and other enterprises can use to promote both themselves and East Anglia in general. Recently the focus has been on the Bury St. Edmunds-Thetfford-Diss area, painting tinwhistle inventor Robert Clarke at Coney Weston Swan Inn, being part of the annual Thetford Arts Centre exhibition and painting Thetford steam engine maker Charles Burrell at Charles Burrell Humanities School. Currently involved in the Waveney Springs Art Collective: http://waveneysprings.co.uk/ and will perform at the Frogstock Festival: http://frogstock.frogmorris.net/index.html.

“Ned Pamphilon; the most obstinately provocative painter I know.” Brian Sewell, art critic The London Evening Standard

“Ned; he’s the painting wizard.” Eloise Willcox, Barningham Primary School, aged 4

“I urge people to come to this unique one-man show - it opened my eyes.” Witold Kasicki, aged 88, Veteran of 2nd World War