x0x Empire of the Sultans: centuries of Ottoman art
Turkish Radio San Francisco
* The exhibit consists of more than 200 objects. They range from the
14th century to the early 20th century and include pottery, rugs,
textiles, maps, combat armor and weapons
Portland - The Associated Press
Whether characters in black paint inscribed on a tile, or swirls
shaped to form the outline of a lion or writing in a brilliantly
decorated Koran, Ottoman calligraphy is beautiful to the eye.
It is also the heart of a new show at the Portland Art Museum entitled
"Empire of the Sultans: Ottoman Art From the Khalili Collection."
The exhibit consists of more than 200 objects. They range from the
14th century to the early 20th century and include pottery, rugs,
textiles, maps, combat armor and weapons.
But the pieces extolling the importance of the written word are the
most numerous and striking - and show that calligraphers in the
Ottoman world, centered in Istanbul, were revered as much as famous
painters in Europe.
Even though most museumgoers cannot read Arabic script, it can be
appreciated aesthetically for its strong verticals and elegant curves
and the care lavished on the beautifully embellished manuscripts.
Items in the exhibit include architectural roundels used to decorate
mosques with the names of Allah and Muhammad written in large gold
letters, bureaucratic decrees dealing with issues of property rights
and appointments as well as Korans not much larger than a silver
dollar.
"Even if you don't know anything about Islamic art, when you look at
all this, it appeals to you," says Dr. Nasser D. Khalili, owner of the
collection, which has grown to 25,000 pieces since he started it in
1970.
During the years when many of the works were created, the Ottoman
sultans were among the most powerful men on Earth - ruling a huge
empire from their palace complex in Istanbul and serving as patrons of
the arts and architecture.
The Ottoman Empire emerged in the late 13th century and its reign
extended until 1922 - with the capture of Constantinople from the
Byzantines in 1453 as a highlight.
The heartland of the empire was in Anatolia and the Balkans, but at is
zenith extended from Hungary and Ukraine in the north to include
Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Arabia and most of North Africa. It was known for
its sophisticated system of governmental administration and for
organizing one of the first standing armies in Europe.
Khalili, born in Iran and the son of an art dealer, lives in London.
He says he wants his art work to tour the world to spread an
understanding of Ottoman and Islamic art and culture.
"A lot of countries send political ambassadors. No ambassadors can do
anything like this exhibit," he says. "Religion has a language.
Politics has a language. The language of art is neutral. It is for
everybody."
After the exhibit closes April 8 in Portland, the collection will tour
the United States until 2004, including stops in New York City, San
Francisco, Oklahoma City and Pittsburgh.
The show emphasizes the importance of Islam in Ottoman art and life.
Some of the brightly woven silk and wool carpets were used as prayer
rugs for the five-times-a-day prayers Muslims perform while facing
toward Mecca. A pair of huge copper gilt candlesticks were for use in
a mosque.
Surveying instruments helped travelers face the correct way when
praying, and a book carried by pilgrims is filled with illustrated
drawings of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
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