Egyptian puppet display in Istanbul
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 13, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - An exhibit of unique puppets, masterpieces of Egypt’s Mameluke Shadow Theater, is on display in Turkey for the first time as part of the ongoing International Istanbul Puppet Festival.
The puppets, which have largely been produced from monkey leather and ornamented with interesting figures, could previously only be seen in the Berlin Museum and the Cairo Islamic Museum. The works in the exhibition have been gathered and brought to Istanbul by Prof. Nabil Bahgat, a lecturer at Hilwan University in Egypt and the founder and director of the Egyptian National Puppet Arts Center.
According to Cengiz Özek, curator of the exhibit and Turkish Karagöz puppet artist, Turkey and Greece have hotly debated the origins of the shadow theater featuring the characters Karagöz and Hacivat. Özek said the play had originally been brought to Istanbul, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire, from Egypt in 1530 by the Ottoman Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim. "The sultan conquered Egypt and executed those in power," he said. "The artists of the Egyptian Shadow Theater acted out this event onstage and the Sultan, who appreciated the play, brought the Karagöz Shadow Theater to Istanbul as a gift for his son Kanuni Sultan Süleyman."
After coming to Istanbul from Egypt, the Karagöz and Hacivat play spread to other parts of the world, Özek said, adding, "Karagöz acquired different characteristics and names in each country to which it was brought."
Özek said the Karagöz and Hacivat Shadow Theater had also contributed to the development of Istanbul folklore in the Ottoman Empire, but that after the declaration of the Rescript of Gülhane, the Ottoman Empire turned to the West.
"With Westernization, the Karagöz Shadow Theater lost its importance, just like many other things did," Özek said. "If it continued to exist, our society would accelerate in cultural and social fields." The exhibition of Egyptian puppets can be visited until Saturday at the Marjinart exhibition area.
Address: Şehit Muhtar Mah. Taksim Akarcası Sok. No: 4/4, Taksim.
According to Cengiz Özek, curator of the exhibit and Turkish Karagöz puppet artist, Turkey and Greece have hotly debated the origins of the shadow theater featuring the characters Karagöz and Hacivat. Özek said the play had originally been brought to Istanbul, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire, from Egypt in 1530 by the Ottoman Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim. "The sultan conquered Egypt and executed those in power," he said. "The artists of the Egyptian Shadow Theater acted out this event onstage and the Sultan, who appreciated the play, brought the Karagöz Shadow Theater to Istanbul as a gift for his son Kanuni Sultan Süleyman."
After coming to Istanbul from Egypt, the Karagöz and Hacivat play spread to other parts of the world, Özek said, adding, "Karagöz acquired different characteristics and names in each country to which it was brought."
Özek said the Karagöz and Hacivat Shadow Theater had also contributed to the development of Istanbul folklore in the Ottoman Empire, but that after the declaration of the Rescript of Gülhane, the Ottoman Empire turned to the West.
"With Westernization, the Karagöz Shadow Theater lost its importance, just like many other things did," Özek said. "If it continued to exist, our society would accelerate in cultural and social fields." The exhibition of Egyptian puppets can be visited until Saturday at the Marjinart exhibition area.
Address: Şehit Muhtar Mah. Taksim Akarcası Sok. No: 4/4, Taksim.