Two art forms under same roof
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 20, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Pera Museum hosts two new exhibitions: ’Masterpieces of World Ceramics’ and ’The Logbook of the Ottoman Navy-Ships, Legends and Sailors.’ The two different subjects and forms of art display both instructive and stunning pieces.
Istanbul’s Pera Museum celebrates its fourth year in the arts and culture world by bringing together two interesting exhibitions. Although it might seem the museum is biting off more than it can chew, amid the cooperation with world-renowned museums around the world and the hard work, it creates an exemplarily museum identity for others.Â
The "Masterpieces of World Ceramics" and "The Logbook of the Ottoman Navy-Ships, Legends and Sailors" exhibitions opened last Friday without a fuss just like its former exhibitions.
The international exhibition on ceramics was enabled through a collaboration with Britain’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Speaking at the press conference, M. Özalp Birol, the general manager of the Suna ve İnan Kıraç Foundation, or SVİKV, said the name of the exhibition gives a clue to what there is to see. It is possible to see world ceramics from the earliest ages to today. The exhibition displays ceramic in different shapes and sizes from diverse nationalities and time.
Among some of the most notable pieces in the collection are: a human size statue of Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist priest; the bust of Apollo; a figure of Hebe, known as the juvenile goddess in Greek mythology; a vase made by the world-famous artist Picasso; the portrait of Zhou Enlai, the fist premier of the People’s Republic of China on enamelware; and porcelain busts of French King Louis XVI. and Queen Marie Antoinette.
The financial crises, whose effects were felt strongly at the end of last year, has affected each investment and enterprise in Turkey but the museum succeeded in opening two important exhibitions this year, Birol said. He said it was fantastic that such a famous museum as the Victoria and Albert was collaborating with the Pera Museum, which is only in its infancy.
The Victoria and Albert Museum started collecting ceramics in 1840, said the director of the museum, who came for the opening ceremony of the exhibition. "It was collected from all around the world for students who studied art and wanted to see examples of ceramics," Mark Jones told to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. The idea was to make the art better and the officials of the museum visited many ceramic artisans and collectors all around the world. "The museum still collects ceramic and porcelain works by either purchasing from the collectors or from the artisans who still design pieces. It doesn’t matter if it is a new piece or a historic one. This art branch is no different than paintings when it comes to values and pricing. One can purchase a contemporary art piece and an old painting for the same price," Jones said.
Marriage of ceramics
Tim Stanley, the curator of the exhibition who is known as one of the world's authorities on Islamic art, emphasized that this exhibition was like a marriage of ceramics.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, which will hold 14 exhibitions around the world, opened its first ever exhibition in Turkey. Jones said being in a country with one of the most beautiful ceramic collections was a delight. "Turkish and Ä°znik ceramics are admired and they are also a case study for many."
The 115-piece exhibition is supported by the World Collections Programme, the British Council and The Headley Trust. Besides the collection that coming from the Victoria and Albert Museum, there are pieces from Suna and İnanç Kıraç Foundation’s Kütahya ceramics and porcelain collection.
The exhibition, which was displayed in four different places before it arrived in Istanbul, its last stop, will continue until July 19.
Naval life of the Ottoman period
Besides the international collaboration, Pera Museum also worked with Naval Forces Command Istanbul Navy Museum. The exhibition, which opened its doors on the same day as the ceramics exhibition, sheds light on the naval life of the Ottoman period and the Republic of Turkey.
At the exhibition it is possible to see 16th century Ottoman galleys, pictures of seamen of the Ottoman and Early Republic Period and other documents from that time. It also shows the transition from traditional maritime policies and methods to modern maritime management.
"The Logbook of the Ottoman Navy-Ships, Legends and Sailors" exhibition, curated by Ekrem Işık, chairman of the Istanbul Research Institute Ottoman Enquiries Department, will stay open until Oct. 4.
The exhibition no doubt benefit from the people coming to see the "Masterpieces of World Ceramics" exhibit at the same time.
With Staff Officer Ali Rıza İşipek, director of the Istanbul Sea Museum, the naval museum has entered an innovative period. The exhibition will display and reveal important items used at the sea, and paintings that tells stories of life at sea.
The "Masterpieces of World Ceramics" and "The Logbook of the Ottoman Navy-Ships, Legends and Sailors" exhibitions opened last Friday without a fuss just like its former exhibitions.
The international exhibition on ceramics was enabled through a collaboration with Britain’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Speaking at the press conference, M. Özalp Birol, the general manager of the Suna ve İnan Kıraç Foundation, or SVİKV, said the name of the exhibition gives a clue to what there is to see. It is possible to see world ceramics from the earliest ages to today. The exhibition displays ceramic in different shapes and sizes from diverse nationalities and time.
Among some of the most notable pieces in the collection are: a human size statue of Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist priest; the bust of Apollo; a figure of Hebe, known as the juvenile goddess in Greek mythology; a vase made by the world-famous artist Picasso; the portrait of Zhou Enlai, the fist premier of the People’s Republic of China on enamelware; and porcelain busts of French King Louis XVI. and Queen Marie Antoinette.
The financial crises, whose effects were felt strongly at the end of last year, has affected each investment and enterprise in Turkey but the museum succeeded in opening two important exhibitions this year, Birol said. He said it was fantastic that such a famous museum as the Victoria and Albert was collaborating with the Pera Museum, which is only in its infancy.
The Victoria and Albert Museum started collecting ceramics in 1840, said the director of the museum, who came for the opening ceremony of the exhibition. "It was collected from all around the world for students who studied art and wanted to see examples of ceramics," Mark Jones told to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. The idea was to make the art better and the officials of the museum visited many ceramic artisans and collectors all around the world. "The museum still collects ceramic and porcelain works by either purchasing from the collectors or from the artisans who still design pieces. It doesn’t matter if it is a new piece or a historic one. This art branch is no different than paintings when it comes to values and pricing. One can purchase a contemporary art piece and an old painting for the same price," Jones said.
Marriage of ceramics
Tim Stanley, the curator of the exhibition who is known as one of the world's authorities on Islamic art, emphasized that this exhibition was like a marriage of ceramics.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, which will hold 14 exhibitions around the world, opened its first ever exhibition in Turkey. Jones said being in a country with one of the most beautiful ceramic collections was a delight. "Turkish and Ä°znik ceramics are admired and they are also a case study for many."
The 115-piece exhibition is supported by the World Collections Programme, the British Council and The Headley Trust. Besides the collection that coming from the Victoria and Albert Museum, there are pieces from Suna and İnanç Kıraç Foundation’s Kütahya ceramics and porcelain collection.
The exhibition, which was displayed in four different places before it arrived in Istanbul, its last stop, will continue until July 19.
Naval life of the Ottoman period
Besides the international collaboration, Pera Museum also worked with Naval Forces Command Istanbul Navy Museum. The exhibition, which opened its doors on the same day as the ceramics exhibition, sheds light on the naval life of the Ottoman period and the Republic of Turkey.
At the exhibition it is possible to see 16th century Ottoman galleys, pictures of seamen of the Ottoman and Early Republic Period and other documents from that time. It also shows the transition from traditional maritime policies and methods to modern maritime management.
"The Logbook of the Ottoman Navy-Ships, Legends and Sailors" exhibition, curated by Ekrem Işık, chairman of the Istanbul Research Institute Ottoman Enquiries Department, will stay open until Oct. 4.
The exhibition no doubt benefit from the people coming to see the "Masterpieces of World Ceramics" exhibit at the same time.
With Staff Officer Ali Rıza İşipek, director of the Istanbul Sea Museum, the naval museum has entered an innovative period. The exhibition will display and reveal important items used at the sea, and paintings that tells stories of life at sea.