Ihsan Yucel, Turkey’s Consul General to the UAE, and Mr Abdi Keskinsoy, Turkey’s culture and tourism attaché to the UAE, today (Wednesday) officially opened the Middle East debut of an Islamic art exhibition taking place throughout Ramadan at Dubai Heritage and Diving Village.
The ‘Gilded Letters’ collection includes 41 pieces of classical calligraphy and gilding worth approximately AED 1,200,000 (US$325,000) in total. While the entire gallery is on sale to the general public until 6 November, a private reception gave local business representatives and VIPs a chance to preview the display and meet the artists.
“I’m very proud to be opening ‘Gilded Letters’ in Dubai,” said Keskinsoy. “It is exciting to see such important traditional work finally on display in an Islamic nation.”
Added Keskinsoy: “I have high hopes that the artwork, which has enjoyed immense popularity among Europeans and Americans overseas, will prove extremely popular in this region where it holds such significant meaning.”
Artists Muammer Semih Irtes, Mamure Oz and Recep Cengiz hail from Turkey’s famous Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul and create their work using decorative letters and pure gold. Their distinct Turkish style of calligraphy and gilding grew out of ancient Istanbul and continues to thrive at the city’s 500-year old Topkapi Palace where all three artists teach at its acclaimed school.
Prices for individual pieces range from US$1,500 (AED 5,509) up to US$50,000 (AED 183,645) or more for two prestigious, large-scale creations. The diverse art on offer depicts excerpts from the Holy Quran, historical sayings, ‘Esma-ul Husna’ (99 beautiful names of God) and ‘Hilye-i Serif’ (describing the features of the Prophet).
‘Gilded Letters’ will form part of the Eid celebrations at Dubai Heritage and Diving Village and will therefore run until 6 November between 5.00pm and 10.30pm in exhibition hall one.
The artists teach calligraphy under the patronage and authority of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and ‘Gilded Letters’ is supported by Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
