ANKARA -  Musician and writer Sonny Saul and painter Jim FitzPatrick, both of whom have dedicated their art to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, spoke about how his ideas have been reflected in their work. “Mr. Öcalan is the same age as I am. I think of him as Prometheus, chained to a rock,” said Saul. FitzPatrick, meanwhile, described Abdullah Öcalan as “the key to peace between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples.”

 

While Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan has been held under aggravated isolation for the past 27 years, Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas continue to be debated and inspire people across the world. Extending far beyond the realm of politics, Abdullah Öcalan’s influence has also found a powerful expression in the arts. From painting and cinema to music and literature, artists across a wide range of disciplines have drawn inspiration from Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas.

Musician Sonny Saul translated that inspiration into music by composing a piece dedicated to Abdullah Öcalan. He also dedicated the opening page of his book on the oldest epic of Mesopotamia, the epic of Gilgamesh, to him. Painter Jim FitzPatrick, meanwhile, created a portrait of Abdullah Öcalan. We spoke with these two artists about the stories behind their works, their intellectual journeys, and the ways in which Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas have shaped their artistic practice.

 

Sonny Saul, the composer of the four-movement “Öcalan Suite”, which is dedicated to Abdullah Öcalan, first spoke about how he came to learn about him. Saul explained that he first became aware of Abdullah Öcalan through his son, Quincy Saul, who heard about him at a conference. He later began reading Öcalan’s books. He expressed that he was deeply impressed not only by Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas, but also by the fact that his books were written under conditions of isolation.

 

Saul noted that he was particularly influenced by Abdullah Öcalan’s understanding of Mesopotamia, adding that this influence continues to shape his thinking. Speaking about the inspiration behind the “Öcalan Suite”, he said: “I wanted my music to call attention to the plight of Abdullah Öcalan. I wanted to also honor him with a worthy composition…  A composition worthy of him, one that, if he should hear it one day, he would recognize as coming from the heart as well as the intellect, from someone making an attempt to understand.”

 

‘I THINK HIM AS PROMETHEUS…’

 

Saul described Abdullah Öcalan, who has inspired both his music and his writing, in these words: “Mr. Öcalan is the same age as me. I think of him as Prometheus, chained to a rock... But we continue to hope.  I continue to be an interested reader and advocate in my small ways for awareness. Other than fire, which Prometheus gave to mankind, he gave us hope. Hope appears most clearly as a real thing when we are most without it.  I am not sure that Mr. Öcalan would agree, but I am a believer in the ‘unity of man’ . I sense that the contributions that one man or woman might make that are original and groundbreaking, mind expanding are never lost. I sense the power of the contribution, even from his cell in Turkey, of Abdullah Öcalan.”

 

THE FOUR MOVEMENTS OF THE COMPOSITION

 

Saul also shared details about the preparation and composition of the “Öcalan Suite”. He explained that the piece incorporates the 5/4, 7/4, and 11/4 rhythms, alongside the 4/4 time signature commonly used in jazz. He noted that the composition consists of four movements, each bearing a title that reflects its theme. Describing the work, Saul said: “The music begins with a prelude that is very free and with no regular beat or time. Then the first section "APOLOGIA" or explanation, recalling Socrates' statement at his trial and recalling all that Öcalan, with great patience, takes time to explain. The second piece is IDENTITY, tries to evoke the importance of the various identities that Öcalan has assumed in his long life. The third part is "STRUGGLE/SOLIDARITY" is the most like 'jazz' , suggesting that we too struggle in solidarity. Part four is another prelude even though it comes at the end... It is also, like the first part, very free, almost abstract. I named it ‘Beyond History we are nothing’. I chose this title mainly to encourage myself and others to reflect on this important maxim.”

 

A BOOK DEDICATED TO ABDULLAH ÖCALAN

 

Saul said that he first published an illustrated edition of the Epic of Gilgamesh under the title Gilgamesh in 2004, while an expanded edition was released in 2022. Describing the Epic of Gilgamesh as “a truly ancient story, which comes from Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers, and where Öcalan is from” Saul said he dedicated the expanded edition to Abdullah Öcalan.

 

 

'TO ABDULLAH ÖCALAN...'

 

On the opening page of the book, he wrote:

 

“Dedication to Abdullah Öcalan, long held prisoner in Turkey 

 

Over the last decade, we have found, in your political and historical writings, some serious inspiration. Your revolutionary politics - deriving from life experience as well as from independent and through study of ancient history, and particularly of Mesopotamia, place the story of Gilgamesh in an altogether fresh framework.”

 

Reflecting on the inspiration that has shaped both his music and his literary work, Saul said:  “I was, and am still, inspired by Ocalan's intellectual and moral presence” and added, “I have a bookstore in Woodstock, Vermont and when I go to place Öcalan's books, I am faced with the question, ‘Where shall i put them?’ Surely they include feminism, political science, sociology, history. Also Öcalan's statement that is how a society treats women and the freedom of women is the most important question, that rings true for me.”

 

Painter Jim FitzPatrick also painted a portrait of Abdullah Öcalan. The portrait continues to appear on the covers of editions of Abdullah Öcalan’s books published abroad.

 

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

 

FitzPatrick first spoke about how he came to know Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas. He said he was invited as a guest of honor to an event organized by Sinn Féin, where he was introduced to Abdullah Öcalan’s books.

Recalling his first impressions of Öcalan, FitzPatrick said: “I remember thinking, why is a man like that with that intellect and that attitude towards reconciliation in jail. I'm a friend of Marwan Barghouti’s wife. Marwan Barghouti is the Nelson Mandela of Palestine. He’s in jail like Öcalan. That tells you everything. He could have brought peace, but they wouldn't let him. There could have been a peace solution before Gaza was flattened. And we had the same problem with Turkey. Turkey is at war sometimes in the most vicious way with the Kurdish people. So when I read the books, I remember thinking, ‘I’d love to do something for Kurdish people’”

 

‘KEY TO PEACE…’

 

Speaking about the process of creating the portrait and the ideas that inspired it, FitzPatrick said: “If you’re going to bring lasting peace between two different people, you need leaders who have compassion to lead the way. That’s how Gerry Adams brought peace to Ireland after eight hundred years. It’s fragile but we have peace. Öcalan seems to be reaching out all the time to make peace. And I think a man like that should be celebrated.”

 

FitzPatrick also drew parallels between the ongoing peace process in Turkey and Ireland’s own experience with peace, adding: “If I could address the Turkish people, not just the government: He is the key to peace between the Kurdish and Turkish people. They shouldn’t waste any opportunity to find peace. Look what’s happening in Ireland. Since we’ve had peace, we’ve become the most prosperous country in Europe. I used to spend my summers in a thatched cottage that had just got electricity. That's what peace can do.”

 

MA/ Deniz Karabudak