Ruhaltı

by Bahadır Baruter

Large 80 pages.

Genres: Comics

79 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

Bahadır Baruter (d. 1963, Ankara), Türk karikatürist. Lombak karikatür köşesinin çizeri, L-manyak, Penguen, Lombak dergilerinin kurucularındandır. Yazar Mine Söğüt'ün eşidir.

İstanbul Erkek Lisesi'ni bitirdikten sonra devam ettiği İstanbul Üniversitesi İşletme Fakültesi'ndeki eğitimini tamamlamadı, Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi Resim Bölümü'nden mezun oldu.

1990 yılında profesyonel çizerliğe başladığı Pişmiş Kelle Dergisinde üç ay çalıştıktan sonra Limon Dergisine geçti ve Lombak Köşesini çizmeye başladı. Altı aylık bir dönem boyunca aynı zamanda Avni dergisinde de çizen Baruter, Leman'ın kurulmasıyla birlikte bu dergide yaklaşık 12 yıl süresince, Fatih Solmaz ile birlikte hazırladıkları Lombak'ı çizmeye devam etti. Lombak köşesi yayınlanmaya başladığı zamandan itibaren dönemin en beğenilen köşelerinden biri olmuştur.

1996 yılında Leman Dergisi bünyesinde, Selçuk Erdem'le birlikte L-manyak Dergisini çıkardı ve ilk bir yılı Selçuk Erdem ile birlikte olmak üzere yaklaşık 5 yıl süresince bu derginin editörlüğünü yaptı. 1997 yılında Orhan Acar ile birlikte Komik Şeyler Yayıncılık isimli şirketi kurdu ve L-Manyak çizerlerinin çizgi romanlarını kitaplaştırmaya başladı. 2001 yılında L-Manyak çizerlerinin büyük bir bölümü ile birlikte Leman bünyesinden ayrılarak Komik Şeyler Yayıncılık bünyesinde L-Manyak'la aynı format ve içerikte, yine Lombak ismini verdiği aylık dergiyi çıkardı. Hemen ardından başlangıçta Lombak'ın eki olan Kemik dergisini bağımsız bir dergi olarak yayınladı. 2002 yılında Leman'dan ayrılan Metin Üstündağ, Erdil Yaşaroğlu ve Selçuk Erdem ile birlikte haftalık Penguen dergisini kurdu. Ortak kurdukları yayınevinden Hayvan edebiyat dergisi ve çizerlerin karikatür albümleri yayınlandı.

Satışların düşmesi ve çizerlerin ayrılıp başka dergiler kurmaları sonucunda 2009'a kadar Hayvan, Kemik ve Lombak dergileri kapandı. Baruter hâlen Lombak Köşesini Penguen'de çizmektedir.

Penguen dergisinde çizdiği bir karikatürden dolayı "halkın bir kesiminin benimsediği dinî değerleri alenen aşağıladığı" gerekçesiyle 1 yıla kadar hapis istemiyle yargılanılması talep edildi

Reviews

[Alex E · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book comprises of 30+ "short stories" all created by Bahadir Baruter. And I put short stories in quotes, because there isn't really a narrative structure to the stories per se. They are usually two pages long, and show the movement of time from the beginning to the end, but there isn't any real narration or any kind of speech. Its more of showcasing Baruters art. To me, this seemed like an art installation in comic book form.

I would describe Baruter's art as highly detailed, sketchy, and highly psychedelic. Most of his work definitely has a Dali vibe to it, with the added dimension of time passing (due to the panels). It also reminds me of something you would find in the way of sketches in a notebook that someone doodled in. But then taking those sketches to their furthest point by allowing them to "grow" and "move".

I would say this book is interesting, but the feeling of frivolousness never really leaves you when reading this. Since there is not real structure, it does become like a gallery of sorts. And while the art is good, its definitely an acquired taste and one that you may not be ready for. The amount of detail per panel can also feel claustrophobic and intense, which makes the eye skip over details.

Overall I would say if you like sketches of surreal things, people, and places, then check this out.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I think many people will say 'life's just too short for books like this' – even while grudgingly admitting the other response, that they will barely have seen the like anywhere else before. We get a welter of (mostly) two page stories, all black and white inked, all wordless, and all with a bonkers surreality that makes 'The Persistence of Memory' look like a perfect still life. Here's just a summary of one, and remember, this is six panels and two pages.

An artist sits at his easel under his parasol, alongside a lake or lagoon, across which a camel is walking with a large book on its back, while a person floats along mid-air holding a large die. The camel walks away, as the trees shading it slowly turn into architectural columns, the floating man rolls his die, and one side comes up plain white. Meanwhile, a final character is hooking up the shore of the lake as if it's a giant bed sheet to reveal a gigantic fish underneath – oh, and the artist is of course disappearing through his canvas. Next, the die man turns to the artist, who is still going through his canvas, but reappearing in the middle of the lake, while the giant fish is goaded out from under the water, and the book – remember the book? - starts flapping about and going wappy under the columns. The fish goes through the canvas after the artist, who has been persuaded to paint a solo dot on the blank face of the die. We end with the die owner very happy with the dot, the book now a thousand pages – all bearing a single dot – while the canvas is also shown to have one large solid circle in it, as the fisherman walks off with it (and his hat, which blew off and has had to be rescued by a passing bird). We never see the camel again.

I don't think a review is really necessary – there are thirty more of those, often awkward-to-follow, surrealist dramas if you choose to get on board with this. The craftsmanship is certainly to the fore, as are adverts for the creator's oddball monthly magazine, produced in his native Turkey for almost all the 2000s. It's a pity the scale of things gets so large at the end to make them almost impossible to 'read' on a digital format, but the Turkish edition, if it exists on paper, would be just as viable a way of seeing these unique creations. And they really are unique.

[Fernanda W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish. I feel like I am too dumb to understand the message from these comics (if there even is one), or that I'm in a bad drug trip. The artwork is beautiful though, the artist's attention to detail is singular, and although I didn't read until the end, I felt a strange connection to the main character, they seem so pure and sees the joy in small things even though the world is chaos. Wish I could understand more what is happening, maybe add some more contextual clues for us dumb dumbs.

ARC received by Netgalley.

[Valéria. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Podľa mňa toto vzniklo tak, že týpek sa narodil a spadol lekárovi, ale nie na zem, ale do kýbla plného LSD. A ako ubiehali roky, tak začal huliť a pichať si extrakty z nejakých amazonských rastlín, lebo čo do psej matere toto bolo. Ako, klobúk dole, tie detaily tam boli neskutočné, celé je to bizarné, panel po panely sa odvíja od predchádzajúceho a mení. Na to že to nemá text na tom človek fakt strávi nejakú dobu. Ale furt som názoru, že by si to človek užíval viac keby na niečom bol.. 3/5, which means I liked that.

[Amit Verma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic and artist ARE different. It explores how much experimentation is possible in art form that creator uses.
Each comic shows progressive and rapid transition of characters from one dimension to other.
Characters start seperate and then they merge and change in certain mind blowing ways and story ends in a weird situation.
if you like to read different types of comics and love innovative styles then it is for you..
There are no captions but what is happening in a scene is easily decipherable.
a different sort of experience on offer..

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the 'stories' either went over my head or were just so absurdist and surreal that being weird was their entire point. It's certainly a book full of detail where you often had to read through a single page multiple times, following different elements of each panel repeatedly and comparing them to others, to follow along with what's happening in them. There's an incredible amount of work put into how different drawings can change and play with your expectations, disappearing when you least expect or bursting into existence with surprising speed.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author shows us the infinite dimensions through drawing, artwork, illustrations and surreal existence that one may feel from time to time.
It truly demonstrates how we all have light and darkness roaming around in our minds and in our realities!

These 32 stories include wonderful destinations and some not so wonderful, all while entrancing you with the beautiful artwork and fantastic pencil lines.

I wish I could even color a fraction of what he did!

I’m not one for just sketches typically, but reading this made me realize how beautiful and wonderful the little things truly are.

[Lindsey Lawntea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soulscape is a set of 32 "short stories" which feature surrealist, shifting art. What is featured in one panel morphs over the next. For instance, in one, an artist is drawing on paper and has a reflective paperweight on his desk, reflecting the background of the room. In others, volcanoes slowly erupt and transform the landscape, "edges" are lifted revealing a scene behind the scene, buildings flip upside down and downside up. I enjoyed these as I'm a huge fan of artists like Dali and MC Escher, and Bahadir Baruter brings a grotesque aesthetic to the style. Some of the images flow better than others and the changes are too subtle to miss until they've turned into something completely new, while some are just a little too crowded and disrupt the atmosphere of the story. I spent hours poring over these and watching every tiny transition. I would have liked it if there had been a page before or after the pieces to describe the artist's thought process and message as I found myself really wanting to know more about the worlds inside the pieces.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

[Sara Alam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the artwork is great, they are definitely bizarre. Each panel becomes something else from the previous panel and I found myself going back and forth between panels to see how a picture transformed. These artworks remind me of dreams- when one thing becomes another and you don’t know how or why it became so. I had a hard time choosing between 3 stars and 4 stars because some of the artwork was a little overwhelming. I ended up giving it 4 stars because although this type of work may not be my cup of tea, I cannot undermine the work and the message the author is trying to portray.

Thank you @netgalley and @europecomics for this copy.

[Alex Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author shows us the infinite dimensions that coming with drawing, artwork, illustrations and surreal existence that one may feel from time to time.
These 32 stories include wonderful destinations, some not so wonderful, all while entrancing you with the beautiful artwork and fantastic pencil lines. I wish I could even color a fraction of what he did. I’m not one for just sketches typically, but reading this made me realize how beautiful and wonderful the little things truly are.

[Joe Bogue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Europe Comics (from whom I received an ARC on behalf of Graphic Policy) is releasing an English translation under the title SoulScape. But Goodreads doesn't have that title listed yet, so I'm using this one.

This graphic novel isn't for everyone. It's the type of book you buy to admire the art, not to be entertained by story.
RATING: 2.5 stars

[Romano]

Hipnótico, salvaje, primigenio.

[Samidha Goel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork is great. I didn't understand anything tho. Plus, it was weird, it had no words. Maybe my brain isn't developed enough to understand this book.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soulscape is a wordless trip through the imagination. The art is abstract and detailed with fascinating page on page. Definitely a text to lead to dialogue.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really amazing artwork in here, but honestly, there are not enough drugs in the world to get me to a place where I could make sense of the psychedelia that follows.

[Aves Trainor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repulsive to look at and no discernible story. Did not enjoy.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whoever wrote the description comparing this to Escher needs to have their eyes examined. Never have so few pages with zero dialogue felt so long.

Received via NetGalley.

[Nazım · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu kitap için burada çok önceleri bir oylama yapsam da bir inceleme yazmaktan özellikle imtina ediyordum. Çünkü YKY, bir çok farklı eserde olduğu gibi bu kitabın da tekrar baskısını yapmıyordu. Ağustos 2023 itibari ile Flaneur etiketi ile (sanırım onlardan başka da kimse bu işe kalkışmazdı.) tekrar raflara çıktığına göre artık bir inceleme yazma vakti geldi.

Öncelikle türlü beylik laflardan önce, kitabın ve Baruter üslubunun herkese hitap etmediğini bilerek işe başlamak gerekiyor. Ruhaltı, bu kitapta toplanmadan önce, Baruter tarafından Leman'da başlayıp Lemanyak'ta biten bir serüven aslında. İlk gençlik yıllarımda da o çizimlere uzun uzun baktığımı/incelediğimi, amiyane tabirle tutulduğumu söylemeliyim.

Baruter, her bölümde bize uzun uzun incelenecek ve her incelemede farklı detaylar ve anlamlar bulunabilecek bir "şey" veriyor burada. Zaten adıyla müsemma bir şekilde gerçek üstünün farklı bir şeklini bize sunmak gibi bi gayret içinde.

Açıkçası zihnimdeki Baruter'in Lombak üslubu dışında, daha karanlık, daha gizemli ve daha keyif verici bir yanı var. Lombak'ta gördüğümüz, görünen Baruter'in alter egosu sanki. Ve bu kitap, o karanlık yan tarafından üretilmiş.
Aynı karanlık yan, Varlık Evhamı, Senin Ailen Bir Yalan Yavrum, Evim Evim Güzel Evim ve Mukadderat (ne sergiydi ama) isimli sergilerinde de fazlasıyla görünüyor.

Bu kitabı gören, bakan, inceleyenlerden yüksek oranda "abi asit kafası, uyuşturucu etkisi" gibi işi hafife alma çabaları duyacaksınız. Sanki bir zihin, sağlıklı hali ile bu seviyeye çıkamaz, bunları üretemezmiş gibi. Dünyada onlarca örneği yokmuş gibi. Hatırlayın aynı zırvalıklar Dali, Van Gogh ve daha bir çok sanat dahisi için de söylenegelmişti.

Velhasıl kelam Ruhaltı, Baruter'in uzun yıllar boyunca hatırlanacağı, imza işlerinden biri. Bana kalırsa dehasını sergilediği iş.

Ama şayet bu kitabı alıp Lombak kıvamında alelade bir hikaye, kurgu beklentisi ile okuyacaksanız bulacağınız şey dev bir hayal kırıklığı.

[John Blacksad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alırken başıma bunların geleceğini biliyordum.

Baruter iyi bir çizer. Bir tarzı olduğu ortada. Ama yıllardır bana hitap eden bir işi olmamıştır. Yine öyle olacağını biliyordum. Bir koleksiyon itemi, bir çizim numunesi olsun diye aldım. Önermiyorum.

Kitap belli açılardan havalı denebilecek bir iş. Normal versiyonu aldım ama flaneur her zamanki gibi güzel bir baskı yapmış (iki sayfanın dev tek panel oluşturduğu bölümler hariç. Sayfaların birleştiği noktalar yeterince açılmadığından noksan kalmış)

Baruter sözsüz, deli saçması (veya sanat eseri¿) denebilecek bana göre anlamsız çizgilerden oluşturmuş kitabı. Madde etkisi altında mı acaba diye de düşündürüyor, daha da kötüsü madde etkisi altınday”mış” gibi bir üslup, öyle bir taklidi hal ise daha kötü. Yer yer aklıma The Persistence of Memory geliyor. Ama totalde bir beğeni oluşturmuyor.

Anlaşılması güç, anlaşılmayan işleri okumayı havalı buluyorsanız :) veya Baruter’den bir çizgi örneği/ilhamı elimde olsun diyorsanız değerlendirebilirsiniz. Yoksa gerek yok.

Baruter bana göre yeteneğini iyi bir eserle buluşturamamış (maalesef çok sayıda) çizerlerimizden biri.

[Halina Hetman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перший турецький мальопис, який я тримала в руках. Сюрреалістичний, абсурдний, Далі-під-накротою стиль малюнку, німа та безсюжетна, але сповнена креативу й дуже нестандартних творчих рішень книжка. Картинки "знайти 10 відмінностей" для дорослих. Іноді - для дуже дорослих.

[Jen (Remembered Reads)]

A surreal collection of fantastically detailed landscapes and caricatures. This kind of thing is too experimental to rate, but it’s fascinating to flip through (although with a caveat for the sensitive that some of it is quite graphic).