Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Filiz Ak from Istanbul, Turkey
We have decided to launch a new intimate style of interview into TheAppWhisperer – the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website. We feel it is important that our community feel close to each other, as it is this support that helps us to nurture one another, gain confidence and continue to grow.
This is our nineteenth interview, to read the others, please go here. Today, we are publishing this thoroughly radiant interview with Filiz Ak from Istanbul, Turkey. In putting this interview together this morning, I have spent some time pursuing her social media channels, to build up a larger picture, so to speak and I feel all the better for it. Her joy, of life, in her work, in her art shines through not only in the images that she creates so well but also in the photographs of herself and of others that she takes, they reflect her jubilance. Personally, I am so happy that I have learned more about this wonderful artist and I am thankful that she completed this interview for us all. Enjoy!
All images ©Filiz Ak
What was your childhood or earliest ambition?
To be a doctor and to be able to draw with a black pencil, just like a painter. In the end I became a doctor and nowadays fortunately, I am attempting mobile art.
First Recognition
I was very succesful on stage as an artist for presentations at high school. I received prizes for this, between 15-18 years old. I remember, one of the plays was called “Bernarda Alba’s Home” and I was the bad and ugly aunt Augustine😊
First job?
My first job was reading newspapers to my grandmother’s friend. She was a retired teacher and our neighbour. She had lost her eye sight because of yellow point disease. When I was 12 years old, I used to read newspapers for one hour to her everyday whilst on Summer break and charged 5 Tl per week.
Private or state school?
State school.
University or Work?
University. It takes too long, after this, I worked as a general practitioner (GP) for one year and then I began to work as an assistant to become a gynaecologist, this training lasted for 5 years. I am now a gynaecologist and continue to work in this career.
Who was or still is your mentor?
My literature teacher was my mentor, a brillant and wonderful person. She died 5 years ago.
How physically fit are you?
I’m healthy. I have always been sporty, I want to stay fit and strong especially as I get older.
Ambition or Talent: What matters more to success?
Both of them and self-discipline.
How politically committed are you?
I‘m interested in political issues in my country and all over the world; I am so sad for the misspending of natural resources and climatic changes.
What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?
I’m pleased with my life. All that I have makes me happy.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Books, pictures and travelling. I try to read a book every week. I have a small picture collection and I want to add some more pictures from Turkish painters. I’m excited to see ancient and historical areas in the world…, Certainly after that an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil are very important necessities in my life.
In what place are you happiest?
City life and country life; five days in the city and two days in the country. It makes me happy.
What ambitions do you still have?
I would like to travel, take beautiful photos with my iPhone and make mobile art.
What drives you on?
Mobile art groups on FB drive me on and I’m so pleased to be part of them.
What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
I would like to continue to enjoy life, to be a healthy and happy person. To be able to fund support for education, especially for female students in our country.
What do you find most irritating in other people?
I don’t want to be with liars and boring people.
If your 20 year old self could see you now, what would she think?
She would tell me; Yes Filiz! That’s all, I’m proud of you!!
Which object that you’ve lost do you wish you still had?
My printed old photos. Unfortunately I had a fire in the roof of my home three years ago. I lost all of my photo albums from childhood to 2000.
What is the greatest challenge of our time?
Bad Politics throughout the World, air pollution, environmental and immigration problems.
Do you believe in an afterlife?
Not sure?? But it would be wonderful to have somewhere beautiful to go to after we leave this World.
If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what would you score?
Would be 8-9
Thank you so much Dear Joanne Carter for this amazing interview. I am so pleased to be here🌹
Contact Details for Filiz Ak
Please Read…
TheAppWhisperer has always had a dual mission: to promote the most talented mobile artists of the day and to support ambitious, inquisitive viewers the world over. As the years passTheAppWhisperer has gained readers and viewers and found new venues for that exchange.
All this work thrives with the support of our community.
Please consider making a donation to TheAppWhisperer as this New Year commences because your support helps protect our independence and it means we can keep delivering the promotion of mobile artists that’s open for everyone around the world. Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for our future.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
You May Also Like
Mobile Art and Photography That Has Influenced Me with Jo Sullivan from the United States
‘Brought to Light’ – Mobile Photography / Art Interview with Tim Bingham from Kilarney, Ireland UK
