Hasan Kale, a well known microartist,involved in painting since his early childhood, began hiscareer by drawing miniatures in Istanbul. The artist tries to interpret miniature art with a contemporary eye. He paints on things we see,are exposed to or ignorein our daily lives like a rice, a nail, a silk cacoon, a needle, a buttterflywing. Hasan Kale considers these microworksas a turning point in his career. “Things weusually see can turn into something invisible” he says.
What is your artistic background?
I began painting when I was five years old. I begin classical miniature painting in ’80s. Afterwards, I decided to interpret my own world with miniature but in a different perspective.
What inspires your work?
Everything. Especially my love to my hometown: Istanbul.
How did you become to be interested in painting miniatures on food?
Twenty years ago, I saw that how tiny I coulddraw. I just took a challenge.
How do you choose your canvas, and your landscape?
I gather objects which appealme. I collect them on my table. When I feel it’s time, I begin to paint on them.
How long does each painting take?
It doesn’t end quickly. Sometimes it takes two days, sometimes a few months. It depends on the object and the composition.
What kind of paint do you use and why?
I use my own mixes. Usually water-based paints.
Do you have any food that you find very hard to work with?
They all have their own difficulties. Some objects absorb a lot of paint, some objects absorb less. That’s why Ihave to concentrate more.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
I’m preparing for Guinness Records. I want to paint panaromic view of Istanbul on a hair. I’m also planning to open a microart museum. Plus, I’m reviewing exhibition requestsabroad.
What is the smallest food you’ve painted on?
Fig seed, kiwi seed, mustard seed.
If you could go anywhere in the world to paint a landscape where would it be?
It could be Italy, Japan, Egypt or United States.
What do you do with your paintings once they are complete – do you have to preserve them in a specific way?
First thing I do just grab a cup of coffee and look at the final piece. Then I take a photo and frame it. For some objects I use lac.