A new exhibition titled Illumination of Miniature and Watercolour opened at the Yunus Emre Institute London last week. Works on show are by six graduates from the Marmara University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, who have interpreted traditional Turkish arts and watercolour painting with a modern perspective. A spokesperson for the Institute said, “Traditional arts […]
If you missed this exhibition last year, when it was on at the South Bank, make sure you visit this time round. The occasion is the Prophet Muhammed’s 1446th birthday, celebrated through the incredible works of prominent Turkish calligraphers past and present. It’s perfect viewing for those interested in calligraphy, Islamic art, design and […]
It’s the last few days to catch the Design Museum’s fascinating ‘Fear and Love – Reactions to a Complex World’ exhibition, which closes this Sunday evening. The exhibition contains eleven installations by some of the most innovative and thought-provoking designers and architects of our time, among them fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, architects OMA and […]
In the patriarchal world of Turks, it’s easy to overlook the many amazing women who have dared to be different, pioneering a new path for others to follow. Mihri Müşfik was one such lady. Of Circassian ancestry and the daughter of a military doctor, she was born in Kadıköy, Istanbul, on 26 February 1886, and […]
A new art exhibition opening in London will celebrate the aspirations and influence of the first female Ottoman contemporary artist. A little over a hundred years ago, Mihri Müşfik Hanım, a Turkish aristocrat and artist, had wanted to establish the Istanbul Women Painters Society, but social and political conditions prevented her from doing so. Instead, […]
A new art exhibition about Morocco opens at the Yunus Emre Institute in London next week. Called Reminiscence, Polish artist Barbara Piekarska Abou-Hilal presents a series of paintings inspired by her love of the country. While living there with her husband, she was taken by its people, traditions and culture, reproduced in these paintings of […]
Since landing their first front cover, for Dazed & Confused in 1997, Mert & Marcus have pushed the boundaries of fashion photography, blurring the lines between artistry and commercial shoots. Their distinctive and powerful photographs of models and celebrities, including Madonna, Kate Moss and Kim Kardashian, have featured in cult publications such as i-D, Love, and […]
This week Christie’s – London’s premier auction house – reminds us of the cascade of beauty which Islam has given to the world. Its series of Islamic-themed sales are from a galaxy of different Muslim civilisations spanning a thousand years. No art-form exists which has not been carried to sublime heights in the service of […]
Next week, the Yunus Emre Institute in London will host a unique exhibition showcasing the work of three talented Turkish artists: one fashion designer and two painters. The brainchild of fashion consultant Zeynep Ober, Art Meets Fashion brings together Zeynep Kartal, whose glamorous gowns are favoured by UK celebrities, with the colourful, thought-provoking works of […]
The world around us is forever changing. When we speak to those who have undergone major transformations in their own lives, what do they say and what is it that we hear? Hosted at 5th Base Gallery in Whitechapel, The Stories They Told is a new exhibition featuring the fragments of what four diverse artists […]
