Art Treasures of Konya: Medival Islamic Art and Architecture II

A great opportunity to study art in context, by learning from experts and visiting amazing monuments and museums in Konya.

After last year's huge success, the Summer Abroad Program - 'Art Treasures of Konya: Medival Islamic Art and Architecture II' is once again available from July 11 until August 05, 2016. Last year, many students from different countries, such as the USA, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malaysia, attended the course and gained an understanding of the stylistic, historical, and social importance of the medieval Islamic art and architecture of Konya and of its place in the broader framework of Islamic art history by learning and enjoying the teachings and field trips.

The Ince Minare Madrasa in Konya / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

This course offers the unique opportunity to study spectacular examples of medieval Islamic art and architecture of Konya on site. The city, once the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk dynasty and an important stop on several trade routes, hosts a number of important monuments from the Seljuk, Mongol and Karamanid periods.

The course will combine lectures and many field trips to monuments and museums in Konya. In addition, students will spend a day at an archaeological excavation of a castle, located at a short distance from the city and experience Islamic art first-hand in a series of four workshops on the traditional Turkish arts. By the end of the course, students will obtain an understanding of the stylistic, historical, and social importance of the medieval Islamic art and architecture of Konya and of its place in the broader framework of Islamic art history.

The Karaman Dikbasan Mosque, 1436 / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

The field trips will include visiting Ince Minare Medrese, Buyuk Karatay Medrese, Alaeddin Mosque, Iplikci Mosque, Shamsi Tabrizi Mosque, Rumi's Mausoleum, The Sircali Medrese, Sahib-i Atiye Medrese, Kubadabad Palace, Esrefoglu Mosque, Catal Huyuk as well as a number of turbesi, hamams and caravanserais in the Konya region.

The Serafeddin Mosque in Konya / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

The Mevlana Museum in Konya / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

The Sircali Madrasa / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Islamic Art History Instructors

The course will include lectures by Dr. Ahmet Cayci, Dr. Valerie Behiery, Prof. Dr. Bilal Kuspınar, Dr. Ali Fuat Baysal, Prof. Ahmet Saim Aritan, Sami Naddah, Dr. Zekeriya Simsir and Dr. Ilker Mete Mimiroglu. The professors will also accompany attendees of the course to the field trips.

Dr. Ahmet Cayci is the Director of the Islamic Art History Department at Necmettin Erbakan University and a Professor of Islamic Art History. A specialist in the field of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture, his expertise ranges from symbolism and iconography to 19th-century European photographs of the Middle East. The author of over ten books, Professor Cayci has presented papers in many countries including Jordan, Hungary, Greece and the United States. For three years now, he has also been directing the archaeological excavation of Gevale Castle on the western edge of Konya.

Prof. Dr. Bilal Kuspınar is Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Director of the International Rumi Center for the Study of Civilizations at Necmettin Erbakan University. Specializing in the history of medieval philosophy, his research investigates the various philosophical and mystical traditions that flourished in Islamic civilization. Prior to joining Konya Necmettin Erbakan University, he taught at several universities, including the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), Kuala Lumpur, Concordia and McGill Universities, Montreal, and Ahlia University, Bahrain. Author of three books, he has also participated in many international conferences and seminars in his field.

The Iplikci Mosque in Konya / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Dr. Ali Fuat Baysal is the Deputy Dean of the Fine Arts Faculty of Necmettin Erbakan University as well as the Chair of its Traditional Turkish Arts Department. Previous to this appointment, he worked as a manuscript specialist in the Konya Regional Manuscripts Library and served as Chair of the Traditional Turkish Arts Department of Seljuk University, Konya. Professor Baysal is an expert on Islamic ornamentation. Since completing his PhD, he has published several books and articles in the field. Dr. Ali Fuat Baysal is also an accomplished artist and has taken part in many group exhibitions dedicated to the book arts.

Ahmet Saim Aritan is a Full Professor of Turkish Islamic Arts History and was the dean of the Department of Turkish Islamic Arts History at Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Theology. He is especially working on the Anatolian Seljuk and Anatolian Principalities Bookbindings. In addition to his academic studies, he makes applications for marbling and Seljuk-Ottoman Bookbinding Art. He has many articles and books in this field of art. He has participated in many domestic and abroad exhibitions with his artworks.

The Karatay Madrasa in Konya / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Dr. Zekeriya Simsir is an Assistant Professor at the Islamic Art History Department of Necmettin Erbakan University. Besides being an expert on Islamic ornamentation, he is also a great calligrapher. Dr. Simsir is also an expert on Historical Site Conservation. He has many publications about Architecture and Architectural decoration of the periods of the Seljuks and Ottomans. For three years now, he has also been the first deputy managing director of the archaeological excavation of Gevale Castle on the western edge of Konya.

Dr. Ilker Mete Mimiroglu is the director of the Early Christian and Byzantine Arts Department and an Assistant Professor of the Art History Department of Necmettin Erbakan University. He is an expert on Early Christian and Byzantine Arts. He has many books translated into different languages. He is also working as a consultant in the restoration of some important churches in Turkey.

Sami Naddah is a PhD student of the Islamic History and Arts at the Institute of Social Science in Necmettin Erbakan University and also a lecturer in the Traditional Turkish Arts and Calligraphy Department at the same University. He participated in many international exhibitions, especially in Istanbul, Konya and such cities as, Damascus, London, Shanghai, Algeria and Lisbon with his works and research of calligraphy. He lectures on Calligraphy Design, Ecoles in the Art of Calligraphy, History of the Art of Calligraphy, Preparation for Book Arts and Principles of Design. In addition to his mother tongue Arabic, he knows Turkish, Ottoman, Persian and English.

Basic Information about the Summer Abroad Program 2016

The course costs $2250 which includes registration fee, course tuition, course materials, accommodation, breakfast, and all expenses relating to field trips. A completed application form and a $500 deposit are required by July 1, 2016. Students will be housed on campus in the student dormitory. A Turkish breakfast will be provided. Please also note that all student apartments have a kitchen in addition to the bedrooms and living room and that daily lunch and dinner can be had very affordable in the many places close to the university or in the city centre which is ten minutes away from the campus. The course will accept a maximum of 20 students, so hurry up and secure your place in the course.

For full course details and schedule please contact Cahit Karakok on email address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Islamic Arts Magazine covered the course last year in a series of articles:

Konya: An Open-Air Museum of Islamic Art and Architecture

Medieval Islamic Art and Architecture - Week 1

Art Treasures of Konya