A new art fair focusing on traditional and classical Turkish, Islamic and Ottoman Arts and antiques ‘All Arts Istanbul’

Taking place at the Istanbul Congress Center, All Arts Istanbul offered a comprehensive range of art work with over 140 participants. Visitors had a chance to meet numerous artists and local artisans and see interesting demonstrations of traditional artistic techniques such as calligraphy, ebru (marble painting) and block printing.

The fair was presented in several sections:

Classical Turkish Arts

The first section, Classical Turkish Arts offered traditional works of art including calligraphy, miniatures, gilding, kat’I (ottoman era paper cutting), marbling, binding and tiles. All together 92 artists within 12 different categories. Amazing calligraphy works by Hasan Çelebi, Hilal Kazan, Uluslararasi Kadin Hattatlar, Savaş Çevik, Abdurrahman Depeler, Seyit Ahmet Depeler, Ahmet Zeki Yavaş, and many others were presented to the public.

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Hasan Çelebi / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Dr. Hilal Kazan & Uluslararasi Kadin Hattatlar / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Dr. Hilal Kazan (the second from the right side) with female calligraphers from the Association 'Uluslararasi Kadin Hattatlar' / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Cevad Huran / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Abdurrahman & Seyit Ahmet Depeler / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Ahmet Zeki Yavas / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic Calligraphy / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Efdaluddin Kilic / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Fatih Ozkafa / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Omer Faruk Ozogul / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Islamic calligraphy by Savaş Çevik / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Hikmet Barutçugil, the ebru master presented ebru (paper marbling) by making several flower ebru. Also ebru artist Eda Özbekkangay Çakir made an ebru presentation. Other ebru artists showed their works, including Fuat Başar, Alparslan Babaoglu, Ahmet Sacit Açikgőzoglu and Ömer Faruk Dere.

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Eda Özbekkangay Çakir and Hikmet Barutçugil making an ebru presentation / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Ebru master Hikmet Barutçugil is showing his flower ebru created at the ebru presentation. Next to him on the right side are Eda Özbekkangay Çakir and Savaş Çevik / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Ebru master Hikmet Barutçugil's booth / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Ebru artist Alparslan Babaoglu infront of his work / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Ebru by Fuat BaÅŸar / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Traditional book binding was presented by Islam Seçen, while Muhittin Eldemir presented Weaving. Teship (illumination), with incredibile details, was presented by artists: Münevver Üçer, Nilüfer Kurfeyz, Gülnihal Kupeli ve Öğrencileri, Semih Irteş & Mamure Öz, Arzu Tozlu, Gülbün Mesara, and many others. Also miniatures were presented by miniature artists: Nilgün Gencer, Özcan Özcan, Şermin Ciddi and Taner Alakuş.

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Book binding by Islam Seçen / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Teship (illumination) by Gülbün Mesara / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Teship (illumination) by Arzu Tozlu / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Teship (illumination) by Semih Irteş & Mamure Öz / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Teship (illumination) by Gülnihal Kupeli ve Öğrencileri / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Teship artist Münevver Üçer infront of her work / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Miniature artist Nilgün Gencer infront of her work / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Paper-cut artist Safiye Morçay infront of her work / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Mother of pearl artist Hilmi Emekli (Hazer Antik) infront of his work / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Antiques

The second part, Antiques showcased painting, china, ephemera (small artefacts from daily life), jewellery, carpets, and numismatic objects (coins). This section of the fair was dedicated to antiques houses; Tantekin Antika, Enderun Antik, Hakan Moğultay, VIP ANTİK and auction house Çukurcuma Müzayede Evi.

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - VIP ANTIK, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Enderun Antik, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Çukurcuma Müzayede Evi, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Hakan Mogultay, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Modern and contemporary art

In the third section, galleries displayed modern and contemporary art: Galeri Selvin, Galeri Baraz, Galeri Artist, Ave Art Gallery, Eylül Sanat Galerisi, Gallery 77, Hikmet Mizanoğlu Art Space, Hazar Group, Marjin Art, Mücerred Galeri and Mehmet Çetinkaya Gallery.

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Galeri 77, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Galeri 77, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Galeri Baraz, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Galeri Selvin, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Ave Art Gallery, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Hikmet MizanoÄŸlu Art Space, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Mücerred Galeri, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Artist, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Mehmet Çetinkaya Gallery, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Hazar Group, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Collections

Another section of the fair was dedicated to exhibiting private collections of renowned collectors including Öner Kocabeyoğlu/PAPKO Collection (Modern Turkish Art and Sculpture Collection), Remzi Gür (Collection of Sultans’ Edicts) and Yusuf İyilik (Classical Turkish Art Selection).

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Oner Kocabeyoglu Papko Collection, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Anthology of Royal Decrees (Ferman) from the Collection of Remzi Gür, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Yusuf Iyilik Calligraphy Collection, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Participating Institutions

The Institutions that participated at 'All Arts Istanbul' were: Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Kubbealti Academy Culture and Art Institution, Foundation of Services to the Turkish Culture: Caferağa Medresesi, EKAV Art Institution, Classical Turkish Arts Foundation / Türk Sanatları Vakfı, Meriç Aktaş - Art Management, Istanbul Design Center, Anatolian Artisans, UNICEF Turkey National Committee, Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Center, The Glass Furnace, Keçiören Municipality and Küçükçekmece Municipality.

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Institutions, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Baksi Muzesi, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Iznik Classic, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul 2013 - Classical Turkish Arts Foundation / Türk Sanatları Vakfı, Installation view / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

All Arts Istanbul - The Advisory Board

The Advisory Board for 'All Arts Istanbul' was created with key figures from the Turkish art world. Professor Nurhan Atasoy, Resident Scholar at The Turkish Cultural Foundation, Dr. Nazan Ölçer, Director of the Sakıp Sabancı Museum Dr. Emin Mahir Balcıoğlu, Project Director, Qatar Museums Authority; Haldun Dostoğlu, Director, Galeri Nev; Doç. Dr. Ahmet Halûk Dursun, Director of Topkapı Palace; Professor Hüsamettin Koçan, Founder of Baksı Museum; and Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı, the Director General for Promotion of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The selection committee responsible for choosing the artists and participants included Professor Uğur Derman, Executive Board Member of Türk Petrol Foundation; Mr Ömer Faruk Şerifoğlu, Advisor to the Private Collection of the Presidency; Professor Gül İrepoğlu, Art Historian, and Professor Hasan Bülent Kahraman, General Coordinator of 'All Arts Istanbul'.

Ali Güreli, the President of the Board of All Arts described the atmosphere in Istanbul: ''Istanbul is becoming one of the most important contemporary art centers in the world, the city’s Biennial and Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair are strong contributors of this development. After developing its contemporary art scene, Istanbul will expand its cultural, economic and touristic boundaries further with the 'All Arts Istanbul Fair'.''