Turkish Forum

Tag: Islamic artworks

  • The Irada Story

    The Irada Story

    Islamic calligraphy is one of the highest forms of art that man has ever known. It venerates both the beauty and the majesty of Allah, His Book, and His Messenger, honoring the most blessed words from the most blessed of all creation and carrying with them his nur.

    turkish mosque

    Over the years, many other forms of Islamic art came to ornament these blessed words, and thus the art of calligraphy became more characterized by their beauty than their majesty.

    However, not always. Walking towards the Old Mosque (Eski Camii) in Edirne, Turkey, you’ll find something quite striking from a distance—numerous calligraphy pieces painted directly on the wall, larger than life. They are simple. They are majestic. They are stunning to behold. This mosque, one of the oldest of Ottoman history, captures the spirit of the early Sufi-sultans who established this legendary empire.

    It is in this spirit, we set out on a quest to capture the beauty of Islamic calligraphy combined with reviving the tradition of large majestic calligraphy directly on the wall and bring it into your home, as a reminder that helps us proceed forward, as a meaning of our ultimate purpose, as an expression of hearts longing for the Divine. Or in other words, increasing one’s Irada.

    The word Irada means to strive for something one wants or desires. Or, in a spiritual context, meaning striving for the Divine. With Irada Arts on your wall, this is what we aim to increase. With constant gentle reminders that are beautiful to look at and have a large majestic presence that cannot be overlooked, Irada Arts directs you to strive for what you want. Your walls talk, conveying to you messages that speak to your heart.

    The end result was Irada: Islamic Wall Arts.

    Irada: Islamic Wall Arts are quotes from Quran, Hadith, Islamic Poetry, Wise Sayings of the Pious, and so on, designed in English or Arabic, or both, of various sizes that can be applied onto the wall, seeming to the viewer as if calligraphy is painted directly on the wall.

    We think “outside the frame.” By removing the “frame” of traditional calligraphy and increasing the size of the calligraphy piece, the walls act as the frame. The effect is a beautiful piece of calligraphy whose majesty and presence is felt. The walls speak to you, addressing those who will listen, reminding those who forget, and helping us all proceed. With Irada, transform your home, office, or school into a profound place of inner worship.

    via The Irada Story.

  • Istanbul’s Sabancı museum hosts award-winning Islamic artworks

    Istanbul’s Sabancı museum hosts award-winning Islamic artworks

    The Sakıp Sabancı Museum welcomes a new exhibition Friday, the ‘2009 Jameel Prize 2009,’ from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The Jameel Prize is a new international art prize for contemporary artists and designers inspired by traditional Islamic art, craft and design. All works competing for the award were exhibited last year in London and are now on display in Istanbul

    Leading curators, designers, artists and cultural figures around the world were invited to nominate candidates for the Jameel Prize. In terms of media, the work ranges from jewelry and photomontage to turned wooden prints.
    Leading curators, designers, artists and cultural figures around the world were invited to nominate candidates for the Jameel Prize. In terms of media, the work ranges from jewelry and photomontage to turned wooden prints.

    Leading curators, designers, artists and cultural figures around the world were invited to nominate candidates for the Jameel Prize. In terms of media, the work ranges from jewelry and photomontage to turned wooden prints.

    Istanbul’s Sakıp Sabancı Museum is hosting the “Jameel Prize 2009” exhibition from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The exhibition features works by contemporary artists and designers inspired by traditional Islamic craft and design.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony Friday, museum Director Nazan Ölçer said the rich cultural heritage of Islamic art was a big source of inspiration for contemporary art and artists. She said countries like Pakistan, Iraq, Bangladesh and Palestine, which fight against many crises, had many talented artists that should be considered.

    Tim Stanley, a curator at the V&A, said it was very significant to curate the exhibition and to establish cultural dialogue between Islamic art and contemporary artists.

    He said the first Jameel Prize was presented to Iranian-born New York artist Afruz Amighi for his work “1001 Pages.” He said all works competing for the award were exhibited last year at the V&A and are now being presented to visitors at the Sabancı museum.

    “The V&A began collecting Islamic art in 1850s and has one of the biggest collections. It also held an exhibition about Islamic art in 2006,” he said.

    Jameel Prize

    The Jameel Prize is a new international art prize for contemporary artists and designers inspired by traditional Islamic art, craft and design. The initiative was launched by the V&A to explore the cultural dialogue between Islamic artistic traditions and contemporary practices, and to contribute to a broader debate about Islamic culture.

    The Jameel Prize is sponsored by Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, who conceived the idea after providing financial support for the renovation of the V&A’s Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art, which opened in July 2006. The prize will be awarded every two years. The patron of the Jameel Prize is Zaha Hadid, widely regarded as one of the world’s most innovative architects, consistently testing the boundaries of architecture, urbanism and design.

    Leading curators, designers, artists and cultural figures around the world were invited to nominate candidates for the Jameel Prize. Over 100 nominations were submitted, and nine artists were short-listed. The nine finalists were then invited to submit work for an exhibition at the V&A.

    In terms of media the work ranges from jewelry and photomontage to turned wood and screen prints. The resulting exhibition demonstrates how dynamic traditional Islamic art can be, and how complex and eloquent the art and design inspired by this tradition has become.

    The exhibition at the Sabancı Museum will remain open until Jan. 9.