By Heidi Trautmann ….
www.heiditrautmann.com ….
This ancient art form Turkish Miniature Painting originally comes from Persia at the beginning of the 16th Century and it is written that Persian artists or scholars closed their schools there and went to Istanbul where they opened new schools.
It is rather interesting to read the history and its philosophy, and if you are interested you can find it by clicking here
Some years ago I saw the beautiful film “Waiting for Heaven” (Cenneti Beklerken) by Derviş Zaim, the famous Turkish Cypriot film maker, a film on the basis of the 17th century Miniature Painting, and the exhibition made me think of it.
I had never before met the artist Arzu Pehlivan; she is from Turkey and has been living in Northern Cyprus for the last four years. Her art work follows the rules of this ancient art form and she is using the colours that were predominantly being used.
Over the centuries the art form has undergone changes; in the beginning it was used to decorate manuscripts, a sort of book art, today the art form is even still taught at university but not restricted to the miniature size.
The art was also used for scientific books on botany and animals, there was a period called the Tulips Period, and you will find the Tulip represented in many of Arzu Pehlivan’s paintings. Unfortunately I could not find any information laid out at the exhibition so it is advisable to get the information if wanted from the internet.
The exhibition will be open for viewing at the Girne Municipality Art Gallery until March 02, 2019. Viewing times Monday to Friday 10.00 – 17.00 hrs. and on Saturday 10.00 to 15.00 hrs.
