The ascent, and descent, of man
‘I wonder if this poster has featured in any of your issues,’ writes Gray Standen. ‘It shows the life cycle of a Turkish businessman who lives to the age of 100 and is accompanied by a complete life...
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Azerbaijan’s past and present on the silver screen
Pera Museum’s film programme always features interesting, diverse and internationally aware cinema events and this season is no different, with the first programme of the year focusing on the cinema...
View ArticleMapping Islamic art and culture collections
A call out to our readers: do you or anyone you know look after a public collection of Islamic art and material culture in the UK or Ireland? The newly established Subject Specialist Network (SSN) for...
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Gallery walkabout: Taksim to Cihangir
Although there is not a large number of galleries around the Taksim and Cihangir areas specifically – before you get deeper into Pera, Galatasaray and Tünel where there is plenty – the ones that are...
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The winner of the Ancient & Modern Prize
The jury of the Eighth Ancient and Modern prize for original research submitted its votes last weekend. We are pleased to announce that the winner of the £1000 Ancient & Modern award is Dr Peter...
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Puppet master
If you are in London, don’t miss the Wael Shawky exhibition at Kensington Garden’s Serpentine Gallery. There is a lot to like about this exhibition, which focuses on Shawky’s films, two part of his...
View ArticlePainting the Black Sea black
If the world press were to be believed, the Black Sea has become a cesspit of flithly politics laced with grubby speculation on a mega scale. Kiev speaks for itself. A horrendous nuclear power station...
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!f Istanbul Film Festival: the highlights
The !f Istanbul Film Festival, now in its 13th year, lands next Friday, February 13 for ten days of pure cinematic pleasure whether you are a die-hard cinephile or just an occasional filmgoer. Still...
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Gallery walkabout: Beyoğlu
The thriving hub of the European Quarter – Beyoğlu – never sleeps and while it may be true that it is the place to go to have a meal, hear some music, watch a show or peruse the shops, it is also fast...
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Classical beauty
The Sismanoglio Megaro, Istanbul’s Greek Cultural Centre, is hosting a captivating photography exhibition of American artist, J. Joshua Garrick until March 9. Curated by art historian Iris Kritikou...
View ArticleTurkish films on London screens
Time is again approaching for this year’s London Turkish Film Festival. Founded by Vedide Kaymak in 1993, the festival has grown over the past 20 years and what began as a three-day event has...
View ArticlePhaselis lost?
The ancient Lycian city of Phaselis, an hour's drive west of Antalya, is one of the most truly idyllic of Turkey's classical ruins. Surrounded by three picturesque natural harbours and marvellous pine...
View ArticleWhy Phaselis must be preserved
Phaselis with its twin ports is among the most atmospheric of classical sites in Turkey. And it seems incomprehensible that a development of so substantial a kind should be permitted whether within...
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Gallery walkabout: Galatasaray
We continue our tour of the Beyoğlu galleries this week, hoping that a culture fix will, at least for a little while, take our minds off Phaselis. Galatasaray may be best known for its football club...
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The dresses have it
The works of the ten Jameel Prize finalists are meticulously placed around the Porter Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Curated by Tim Stanley, V&A’s Senior Curator in the...
View ArticleOttoman and Turkish Summer School
There's just over two weeks left to apply for the 18th annual Intensive Ottoman and Turkish Summer School, again taking place on the beautiful Cunda Island (Alibey Adası). Run by the Ottoman Studies...
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Gallery walkabout: Karaköy/Tophane
We are back in the city’s gallery hub, Karaköy/Tophane, for our walk this week, where our favourite galleries have a concentration on solo shows of Turkish artists. Whether exploring personal...
View ArticleMusic summer programme in Boston
Young musicians or friends and family of young musicians, take note: there’s just five days left to apply for this year’s Arif Mardin Music Fellowship. As in previous years, the fellowship culminates...
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Seductive Levant
This November the first-ever Conference on Levantine History will take place in Istanbul. Last month I attended an interesting – and timely – lecture by the historian Dr Philip Mansel on this very...
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Gallery walkabout: Nişantaşı
We are back in fashionable Nişantaşı this week for a mix of solo and group shows that focus on various disciplines: photography, architecture, performance art, sculpture and even contemporary art...
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