[TurkC-L] x0x Iznik tiles brought to daily life
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x0x Iznik tiles brought to daily life
* Iznik tiles, whose production technics were rediscovered by the
Iznik Foundation after 300 years, brought Anatolian culture to
modern architecture. The aim of Isil Akbaygil, chairwoman of the
foundation, is to bring Iznik tiles into daily life and promote it
to the world
* There is humility in the art of a tile, because its philosophy is
to reach God. The motifs recall heaven, we see round circular,
cosmic actions and movements going upwards
Guzin Yildizcan
The oldest known Iznik tile goes back to 7,000 B.C. During the period
of Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire and Turkish history, it adorned
religious places of Muslims such as mosques, tombs and palaces. The
art of the Iznik tile, which reflects the Anatolian culture, had its
golden age in the Ottoman Empire. But at the end of the 17th century
its production stopped there were no documents providing clues to its
production.
Iznik tiles have not been produced for 300 years. After this period
Iznik Education Foundation was founded under the leadership of Economy
professor Isil Akbaygil and Iznik tiles were reproduced in 1997 in
modern architecture. Now it is time to produce dishes and coffee cups.
Actually, the foundation set its heart on this work and Iznik tiles
are used in every kind of goods in daily life such as rings,
necklaces, washbasins, home accessories and etc. The aim of Akbaygil
is to use Iznik tiles in life. She wants everyone to have at least one
Iznik tile, this old art to keep the Anatolian culture alive. We asked
Akbaygil about the establishment of the foundation and rediscovery of
the production of Iznik tiles:
"Iznik Foundation was founded in 1993. Actually, it was decided to
establish this foundation in the past. The year 1989 was declared
"Iznik Year". Therefore Iznik tiles became current again. Many
activities took place throughout the year with my initiative and the
support of the Turkish Economy. The foundation was established after
then. One year after the establishment of the foundation, Iznik Tile
Ceramics Research Center and Iznik Tile Institute were established in
1994 in Iznik and production buildings were established but because
there was no clue about the production process of this product, we had
to discover this process by conducting research and development work.
Therefore research and development work started in 1995. We received
support from TUBITAK, Mimar Sinan University and various scientific
institutes. We had to throw what we produced between 1995-1997 but
finally we achieved to reproduce it. Some 85 percent of an Iznik tile
is composed of quartz and it is difficult to work with. When you
produce it, it has been surviving for hundreds of years but it is very
difficult to produce it."
Stating that production is very attractive, Akbaygil says this is
because 85 percent is quartz. She states that quartz gives positive
energy and makes people feel better and adds, "In the U.S. there are
people who believe that quartz gives energy and this is true. Because
we proved it scientifically; Iznik tiles removes static electricity.
That's why it is used in mosques and tombs. You make some kind of
meditation to reach God when you enter a mosque. The most beautiful
carpets, tiles and everything had been made for mosques throughout
history."
The most valuable is the Iznik tile
We learn that all ceramics in the world are covered with glaze because
glaze includes quartz. But no ceramics in the world includes as high
quartz as in Iznik tiles (85 percent). Therefore the Iznik tile is
very valuable and resistant. Akbaygil explains the process of
production and characteristics of Iznik tiles as follows:
"Raw materials of all ceramics are tablets which are made up of
terracota and called biscuits. These tablets are covered with glaze
because glaze consists of quartz and the painting process comes after
it. Both biscuits and glaze are quartz and only found in Iznik tiles.
So, you reproduce a rock in Iznik tile. Therefore it is durable for
hundreds of years. The value of the Iznik tile is caused by the high
percentage of quartz in its raw material. Since other ceramics are
produced with a mixture of two different materials the dilation rate
is different and they crack. The Iznik tile is the only one which does
not crack and survives for hundreds of years."
The main importance of the Iznik tile is caused by the fact that there
is compatibility between the paint and quartz. In ceramics it is not
possible to use madder, which is used in Anatolian carpets and kilims
in order to get natural colors, because it cannot endure the
940-degree heat. So, metal oxide, iron oxide and mangeneze oxide are
used to produce the ceramic paint.
Stating that no ceramics color can have the quality of Iznik tile's,
Isil Akbaygil says, "Because you mix metal oxide with quartz in Iznik
tiles, it gives a very nice taste. There is also lead oxide in it. You
can realize the difference between the two when you see the same
design on an Iznik tile and another material."
It is produced like worshipping
An important characteristic of the art of the Iznik tile is that it is
produced like worshiping. There is humility in the art of the tile;
because its philosophy is to reach God. The motifs recall heaven, we
see round circular, cosmic actions and movements going upwards.
Some 60 people are working in the workshop of the foundation in Iznik.
A floor tile is produced in 70 days; it requires intensive labour.
Another characteristic of production is that it is collective, that
means biscuit, glaze, design and painting works are made by different
people. Moreover the people who paint each color are different. For
example, a person paints only red. In short, an Iznik tile cannot be
produced by one person. Therefore there is no sign on the products.
Akbaygil wants the Iznik tile to be used in all architectural
buildings in the world. So, both Anatolian culture and the philosophy
of the Iznik tile will be known all over the world. Anyway Iznik
tiles, being produced currently, are used in modern architecture. They
are used in the branches of the Turkish Economy Bank, Istanbul Stock
Exchange's (IMKB) building, on the walls of a subway station in
Istanbul, at the Koc University and in many buildings in some cities.
Moreover, they fascinate people in two mosques in Japan and Ashkabat,
Montreal Friendship and Peace Garden in Canada, Berlin ITB Fair
building in Germany, Al Zubair Museum in Oman and ISR Business Center
in Baku.
Akbaygil says, "With the reproduction of Iznik tiles after 300 years,
Turks have an important work of art which reflects Anatolian culture
and survives during the centuries. This product also makes people feel
better with its positive energy."
Education of art and communication in the academy
In the center of the Iznik Foundation in Istanbul there is a showroom
and management building where you can see and purchase the best Iznik
tiles (panels, home accessories, dishes, coffee cups etc.) of the last
four years. The activities of the foundation are not limited to this.
In the same place there is also a Communication Arts Academy
affiliated with the foundation.
In this academy, which was opened a year ago, 2-year vocational
education is given in branches of communications, computer and art.
Sibel Erentay, the founder and manager of the academy, says that their
aim is to enable young people, who did not take university education,
to have a job.
There is also a course programs for children and adults. Children are
also given computer education. We are working commonly with Sule Art
Gallery in children group workings about art. Adults have the chance
to learn music, painting, dance, yoga, wood painting and handicrafts
during the courses on weekdays and weekends.
Stating that production training for the art of the tile is given in
Iznik, Erentay says that it is also gives design and form production
training in the academy. She explains the training: "We teach to apply
a design on a form. Additionally, we have course programs for the
history of art, history of the tile, Ottoman art and traditional
Turkish art."
Activities of Iznik Foundation and art of Iznik tile cannot be
explained with a few words. Therefore if you want to get detailed
information about the tile you can reach Iznik Foundation through
www.iznik.com and 0212 287 32 43; academy www.iletisimsanatlari.com
and 0212 257 71 02.
History of Iznik tiles
Iznik is located on the banks of the lake of the same name in the
province of Bursa in the northwestern part of Anatolia. In ancient
times it lay within the borders of the Bithynian region. One legend
says that the town was established on the return of the God Dionysus
from India. According to another legend, Iznik was colonized by the
soldiers, who escorted Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) during his
conquests.
When Antigonas Monophthalmus founded the city in 316 B.C., there was
already a settlement of the Bottiaei people here, called Elikore, but
Antigonas called the town Antigoneia after himself. After the battle
of Ipsus (301 B.C.), one of Alexander's generals, Lysimachus (360-281
B.C.), took the city and named it after his wife Nikaia, the daughter
of the Macedonian leader, Antipatros. Throughout the centuries the
name Nikaia went through slight phonetic changes, becoming first Nicea
and eventually Iznik in Turkish times. In the course of its history
from 316 B.C. to the present day, Iznik presents a picture of a city,
which has undergone great cultural and architectural changes. In the
true sense of the word, Iznik is an archaeological and historical art
laboratory of the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk and Ottoman Turks.
Following the recent excavations of Iznik kilns on the site, professor
Aslanapa and professor Altun have clearly observed that the Ottoman
ceramics in Iznik had a Seljuk background. The latest research and
analysis have revealed that the white-pasted hard ceramic consists of
the same material as the soft porcelain used in the Ottoman Period. In
first, blue and white were the prevailing colors of the pots and wall
tiles in this category. During the 16th century turquoise was
introduced.
The embossed red of the wall tiles of the mihrab of Suleymaniye Mosque
(1,555 A.D.) marks the peak of Ottoman tiles and ceramics. During the
Ottoman era, the Iznik tiles and pottery were exported to other
countries via the Island of Rhodes, which was then under Turkish rule.
During the Turkish war of Independence, Iznik went through turbulent
times. Greeks invaded the town in September 1920, and towards the
final stages of the war it was burnt to the ground by the defeated
invaders and the inhabitants had to flee. With the declaration of the
Turkish Republic, Iznik became home for an influx of Turkish
immigrants from Greece and Thrace.
Istanbul - Turkish Daily News
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