The famous sculptor Ali Dirier tells a fascinating story that combines his artistic talent with the Kömürcüoğlu Stone Sculpture Colony. Kömürcüoğlu Marble’s extraordinary initiative illuminates the narrative with a masterful blending of art and nature. Ali Dirier, who has chisels in his hands and an uncompromising passion for creativity, offers exquisite sculptures and an adventure that will shape the artist’s soul. Before moving on to Dirier’s story, let’s get to know the Kömürcüoğlu Marble company, which made all this possible.
Kömürcüoğlu Marble is a family-owned company founded in 1982 by Ali Rıza, Ismail and Nihat Kömürcüoğlu. With the discovery of travertine deposits in Denizli and the realization of using travertine as a building material, a travertine-based industry has started in Denizli. Kömürcüoğlu Marble has been transformed into a company status since 1996. Nihat Kömürcüoğlu has been continuing his business life together with İlker Kömürcüoğlu and then Caner Kömürcüoğlu since 2000. Nihat Kömürcüoğlu is a civil engineer who worked in Denizli until 1982. His presence in the construction sector, his father and brother’s practice of marble making and his acquaintance with travertine January became the main elements of the establishment of Kömürcüoğlu Marble. Kömürcüoğlu Marble was established in 1982 as a small business in the city. Then, he started cutting the first travertine blocks with a cutting machine called sand gangsaw. The enterprise continued in the size of a workshop for a while, but since 1986 it has turned into a modern factory. The institution has been developing and growing yearly for over 41 years. Kömürcüoğlu Marble is an institution that takes it as its mission to contribute to the sector quarry, travertine quarries, production facilities, sales organization and foreign investments to support information sharing and continuous development. Travertine raw material obtained from quarries located in Denizli Kaklik-Kocabaş region is produced as building material in the factory in Korucuk-Denizli. Travertine produced in Kömürcüoğlu Marble quarry has the characteristics of the region that is hard, solid and has completed the petrification process. Due to these properties, it is a travertine product in demand, especially in America and Europe. The production and sale of many products, such as indoor and outdoor flooring, pool edges, wall coverings, steps, sealants and handrails, are successfully maintained. Kömürcüoğlu Marble exports to almost 50 countries around the world, especially America and Germany. In addition, sculpture and monument projects have also been carried out within Kömürcüoğlu Marble since 2012 with the International Stone Sculpture Colony organized by the Kömürcüoğlu Foundation.
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He shares with us the story of Ali Dirier’s journey and experiences as a sculptor at the Kömürcüoğlu International Stone Sculpture Colony. We hope you will enjoy reading about his work and his passion for art.
In the 1975-1976 academic year, I studied at the Higher Sculpture Department of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts and graduated in 1983. Between 1983-1987, I was a lecturer at the Sculpture Department of Mimar Sinan University. My esteemed master Mehmet Aksoy told me about Nihat Kömürcüoğlu’s invitation to the Kömürcüoğlu Stone Sculpture Colony in 2011, but I had other things to do, I couldn’t attend. I joined the Stone Sculpture Colony upon the invitation I received again in 2012. The name of the work I did was A Woman’s Journey through the Ages. I was invited back in 2013, but I suggested another sculptor friend. He couldn’t come because he had a professorship exam. The job fell to the beginning. During the 2012 Colony, I was very impressed by the Blue Horse on a trip to the Kömürcüoğlu Aphrodisias museum.
I joined the Stone Sculpture Colony again to make it. The name of the work was Homage to the Blue Horse. That year, I bought the Ataturk Monument project at the Mersin Courthouse. I was thinking of doing it at the workshop in Istanbul. Nihat Kömürcüoğlu said to come and make this monument here. He provided the opportunity. I stayed there in 2013, finished the memorial and put it in place. Then I stayed at the Kömürcüoğlu Stone Sculpture Workshop and continued to carve stones there to provide continuity to the Sculpture Colony. I have trained many students. I also sculpted stones with local and foreign sculptors participating in the Stone Sculpture Colony annually.
1-Woman’s Journey through the Ages
2- Homage to the Blue Horse
3- Fred Flintstone’s Car
The sculptures I work on are based on fantastic fiction. I admire them. I continue to carry the scars they left on me separately. Fantastic understanding and original search will never destroy my hopes about the future of sculpture art. On the contrary, it will lead me to a new beginning and pursuits that fuel and make me productive.
+90 532 585 51 95
+90 532 585 51 95