TURKISH ISLAMIC ART INVITES PRAISE FROM CREAM OF MID-EAST ART WORLD

The work of three Turkish Islamic calligraphers and gilders currently on display in Dubai has attracted huge praise from local artists and those visiting from surrounding Middle East countries.
The ‘Gilded Letters’ exhibition, taking place at Dubai Heritage and Diving Village, has been visited by thousands of Dubai residents and tourists alike over the past month with some buying gifts for loved ones to be given during the Muslim festival of Eid.
Calligraphers from Iraq, Syria and Egypt who all work in the UAE spent time at the exhibition and were extremely impressed by the collection on display, while a calligrapher who travelled from Lebanon said the work featured the most beautiful writing he’d ever seen.
 “The praise from the professionals was overwhelming,” said Idil Akin general manager of Mosaic Organizations. “They were especially interested in the gilding and commented that although they can achieve the same standards in writing their gilding is never as elegant as the work displayed by the featured Turkish artists.”
Created using decorative letters and pure gold, the art-form grew out of Istanbul through early inscriptions on marble fountains and tombstones. The calligraphy follows symmetrical patterns with many of the 41 pieces on sale depicting excerpts from the Quran, historical sayings, ‘Esma-ul Husna’ (99 beautiful names of God) and ‘Hilye-i Serif’ (describing the good features of the Prophet).
Some of the collection remain on sale with prices starting at $1500 (AED5,509).
 ‘Gilded Letters’ will form part of the Eid celebrations at Dubai Heritage and Diving Village and will therefore run until 6th November between 5.00pm and 10.30pm in exhibition hall one.
The artists, Muammer Semih Irtes, Mamure Oz and Recep Cengiz teach calligraphy and gilding under the patronage and authority of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and ‘Gilded Letters’ is supported by Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing.