Good People of vitruta: Can Uzer

Welcome, Can! We always start with the same question, so we thought we wouldn’t break the routine: How would you describe yourself to those who don’t know you? Who is Can Uzer? How did your story began, what did you do, and how is it going nowadays?

Hello, thank you for having me. I was born in Ankara, and since my father was an expat architect, I spent my childhood abroad. I found myself moving to Istanbul in the second year of high school — to the city where my father was born and raised.

I’ve always been an active child, you could say I was “hyperactive.” I think due to frequent relocations, I was always drawn to individual sports. With my mother’s support, I swam, practiced aikido, played ice hockey and chess, but I always had an interest in extreme sports: I was constantly skateboarding.

Moving to Istanbul brought skateboarding deeper into my life; we lived in Nişantaşı, and I would sneak out to skateboard at Barbaros Square in Beşiktaş. I got a sponsorship from a skateboard company in Belgium; later, I was on the skateboarding teams of Emerica and then Vans. I skated both domestically and abroad, traveled to many cities in Turkey for Redbull and Vans shows, and won competitions.

For me, skateboarding was a sport with a meditative aspect where I could be myself without hesitation and concentrate on improving. When I reached my second year at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Engineering, as a middle-class family’s child, I realized I needed to work but also wanted to continue skateboarding. So, I decided to do something related to this sport.

First, I skated for a month in Barcelona and attended the Bread & Butter fair; the next year, I went to the fair in Berlin, networked, and secured the Turkey distribution rights for brands like SUPRA, Kr3w, Jart, Independent, and Jessup. I started importing and aimed to support the new generation of skateboarders after us. I formed a team and offered sponsorships.

As I was also interested in photography and videography, I took courses and started working as a freelance cameraman. When agencies started offering jobs beyond what I could handle alone, a few friends and I decided to open a production company. We stopped importing and started shooting sports-related photos and videos, making documentary videos for brands like Redbull, Nike, Puma, and Monster. Around this time, I decided to build a motorcycle in my living room.

Can you tell us more about how producing and designing became a part your life?

For a year, I shuttled between Maslak Sanayi and my home for the motorcycle design process, but since I couldn’t get along with the craftsmen, I learned everything from YouTube and converted the warehouse I used for imports into a workshop.

First, I designed a motorcycle for myself, and then my brother Mert wanted to make one too. When our production company grew and we realized we needed a larger space, we rented a place where we could both use as a workshop and for the photo-video production.

Since the production part was pretty on and off, whenever we finished shoots and returned to the office for editing, Mert and I started designing motorcycles for people who requested them from our network — just for fun.

After deciding we really enjoyed this process, we focused on design and were sure we wanted to work with our hands. We completely left the production business and founded Bunke Custom Cycles. What started in 2009 with building a motorcycle at home has, over the last three years, evolved into a brand where we make custom motorcycles by hand, provide accessories for those far from us, especially abroad, and supply motorcycle parts.

For us, the motorcycle is a tool through which we can comfortably express ourselves. As long as we can work with our hands, we try to do everything — furniture, stands, lighting design — we are excited about the problem-solving aspect.

We read your GQ interview and know you value reflecting the lifestyle you enjoy. How do you turn a space into your own? What comes to mind when you think of “the art of good living”?

I transform a space into my own by trying to feel like a part of it. I believe just as every object has a feeling it reflects outward, individuals also have a feeling they reflect outward. To me, “good living” is a life where you can be yourself, feel both whole and yet different, express yourself well, but also stand out from the crowd and the general.

It seems like to focus on one’s passions, one needs to know themselves well. Can, how do you maintain appreciating your inner voice amidst all the noise of our age?

I think the way to know yourself well is first to find your passions, then focus on them. You continue to keep dreaming and don’t be afraid to try. I have always preferred to speak little but effectively — I’m constantly daydreaming. That dreaming state motivates me on how to spend the time I have in this world.

We know your journey now continues with Bunker Custom Cycles. Can you describe the “custom” projects you have been most passionate about since starting this business?

We create unique projects and help people who want to express themselves. The joy of expressing oneself merges with the freedom of movement, thanks to the mobility of our designs.

The projects we did for Yamaha in 2016 and Honda this year are among the ones we approached with the most passion. Since these projects are purely based on Mert’s and my tastes, they reflect us more and feel more liberating in terms of design outcomes.

Of course, we will eventually mention Istanbul: How does the city nourish you these days? You are practically a neighbor to vitruta Pera; — what are your favorite spots in the neighborhood?

With everything being within walking distance in Beyoğlu, it’s possible to leave home, visit an exhibition, have a nice meal, and then head back home or have a drink before doing so — you can experience a new flow every day.

We are curious about what inspires you: What do you like to listen to, examine, watch, and read these days?

In terms of music, I like late 1960s and 1970s funk-soul, blues, jazz, soul-blues, blues-rock, and rock’n roll. I am studying Nietzsche’s philosophy, watching documentaries, and reading Alain de Botton’s books on my brother’s recommendation nowadays.

We have one last question: What comes to your mind when you think of “vitruta” and “Good People”? It could be a brand, neighborhood, individual, color, event — anything you wish to mention, really.

What comes to my mind is the creative or productive people who are living in their own world.

You can click here to see the products Can Uzer used and chose in the shoot.