[1] His grandfather, Hacı Hamid Semerci, immigrated from Turkey to Tunisia in 1870 as an Ottoman army major.

He abandoned his studies after the death of his father, Mustapha, in 1939, in order to support his family as he was the eldest of seven brothers.

He worked in numerous odd jobs such as an apprentice tailor, clerk, and laborer in oil mill.

His work evolved over time, a nationalist vocation at first, usually figurative like most members of the School of Tunis, it was then influenced by Abstract Expressionism, as inspired by his trip to the United States.

Nonetheless, Turki's abstract style was marked by a deep sense of Tunisia and a somewhat religious aspect, which distinguishes it from other artists of his time.