Gelisim News

25 works by the Head of Restoration and Conservation Department of Istanbul Gelisim University Prof. Dr. Erol Kılıç was presented to art lovers in the exhibition at Zeytinburnu Culture and Art Center.
The Mayor of Zeytinburnu Murat Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Abdulkadir Gayretli of Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) and many guests attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
 
Forcing all patterns of tradition, Kılıç combines mystical images with calligraphic forms to create a new understanding, and uses the symbolic meanings of the search for understanding of infinity and existing with eternity. The cultural symbolic traces of the Seljuks and the Ottomans come to life again in the works produced by the artist in recent years. In the 'Kaaba Dreams' exhibition of the artist Erol Kılıç, the descriptions of the Kaaba, which are not formed according to the optical view, are depicted according to traditional miniature rules or show topographical features.
 
“JOURNEY OF THE KAABA DREAMS”

Explaining how the idea of exhibition emerged Prof. Dr. Kılıç expressed: "Depictions of the are Kaaba designed on each surface from prayer rugs to tiles. The figures of the Kaaba were definitely included in the manuscripts, the power of pilgrimage, and the pilgrimage certificates given by the sheikhs to the dervishes who will take the duty. In the topographical pictures where the journey to the Kaaba is described, we also see the depictions of the Kaaba. While depicting the Kaaba, we can see that the Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi are also depicted. In almost every home, a depiction of the Kaaba existed either hanging on the wall or on paper with hard copies or under-glass pictures. Kaaba is not only depicted in the pictures; there are countless stories about the Kaaba and the journey to the Kaaba in the poems and stories. We grew up with these narratives in our childhood and it took part in our memories. Kaaba is the dream of all of us and it is our qiblah. The holy projections of the Kaaba take place with their reflections on our hearts rather than the way they are portrayed. In my pictures depicting Kaaba, I tried to create a unique picture language by forcing the limits of paint plasticity. While trying to keep continuity between the past and today due to the responsibility of being a contemporary artist, it is a journey of Kaaba dreams with paint plasticity”.
 
The paintings in the exhibition are mainly depictions of the Kaaba due to the concept. The artist, who makes references to Sufism, brings together the mystical aesthetic language that Seljuk and Ottoman art has created over the centuries, and enables to revive with the contemporary artist’s creative features. In the exhibition, the artist presents a selection of topics on Kaaba and Sufism in his paintings.

GAYRETLI: WE HAVE PERFORMED THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL ART WORKSHOP

Emphasizing the importance given to art and artist Gayretli expressed: “In recent months, we have organized the International Art Workshop by our university in Alanya, Antalya. We are planning to open an exhibition of the works that emerged during the workshop attended by 60 artists from 17 countries in Istanbul Gelisim University, this month”.

The exhibition will be open to the audience in Zeytinburnu Culture and Art Center until 14 January 2019.