samedi 4 janvier 2014

Standards needed to be set for İznik tile, artisans say

BURSA - Anadolu Agency

Famous İznik tiles should have a standard in order to prevent the production of cheap ones, which are not authentic in quality, according to the artisans of this craft. ‘Originality begins to be lost,’ they complain

Adil Cam Güven has been contributing to the art of İznik tile for 42 years. He requests the standards of this art to be set in order to prevent the production of cheap tiles. AA photo
Adil Cam Güven has been contributing to the art of İznik tile for 42 years. He requests the standards of this art to be set in order to prevent the production of cheap tiles. AA photo
The artisans of İznik tiles, one of the most important elements in Turkish culture, say that standards should be set for the production of original works. “The İznik tile is moving away from its originality because of economic concerns,” the artisans say.

Adil Cam Güven, the founder and former chairman of the İznik Tiles Research and Development Association, said that he had been involved in the art of ceramics for 42 years and contributing to the development of this art by teaching it to others.

He said that he was giving classes in a vocational school in the district, adding that the art of tiles needed two elements in İznik, a district of the northwestern province of Bursa. “The first element is the establishment of a show center in the district,” he said.

HDN No request realized

“This show center should be established on a land of 4,000-5,000 square meters. There should be four ateliers for the Byzantine, Seljuk, Beyliks and Ottoman terms. This is also very important for tourism. Tourists can see there how this art is performed. But this dream did not come true. The second and the more important element is that I insisted on the protection of the criteria of İznik tiles. You cannot remain behind something which has no criteria. For a few times, I went to the owners of some leading İznik ateliers in İznik and asked them to come together to an atelier chain. I told them ‘We can set standards for the İznik tile there. We can also exchange ideas with university academics.’ But this request of mine was not realized, too,” he said.

Güven said that İznik tiles were a nostalgic type of ceramics, but in the present day, cheaper and semi-industrial ceramics were being produced. “We should support and produce nice and enduring tiles. Others are cheap products, which are sold with economic concerns.”

Europeans fail

He said that Europeans tried to make tiles resembling İznik tiles but they failed, adding that the business of the İznik tile was a unique one. Noting that the material of İznik tiles existed in İznik only, Güven continued: “Most producers do not use this material right now. This material is not known enough. It has not been formulated and does not have a standard. We do our best to use it. With the establishment of a research institute here, it will be revealed how the traditional İznik tiles should be made. Original İznik tiles cannot be produced because its criteria are not known.”

He also said that artisans could not also conduct research because of economic difficulties and the art could not progress. “Like a painting of a famous painter, the İznik tile should have attached value. It is the ‘identity’ of Turkish culture,” he said.
January/02/2014

When the day started in the evening

Niki GAMM ISTANBUL

he last observatory in the Islamic world, which was also the first and only observatory in the Ottoman Empire, was constructed by Takiyuddin Mehmed bin Maruf, who had been invited to Istanbul from Egypt on the order of Sultan Murat III (1574-1595).
he last observatory in the Islamic world, which was also the first and only observatory in the Ottoman Empire, was constructed by Takiyuddin Mehmed bin Maruf, who had been invited to Istanbul from Egypt on the order of Sultan Murat III (1574-1595).

What is time? It is how we segment our days, years, centuries and millennia – to give a bare-bones definition of it. We’ve just passed into a new year based on how years are calculated in today’s society. But what about the past? And how is it that almost 100 percent of the world has accepted a calendar based on European/Christian calculations? And what if you lived in an Islamic culture instead?

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/when-the-day-started-in-the-evening.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60531&NewsCatID=438

Ottoman barracks an Iraqi culture center

BAGHDAD -Anadolu Agency

As part of the 2013 Arabic Capital of Culture, the barracks were restored and
opened as a cultural center six months ago. It is popular among Iraqi artists.
As part of the 2013 Arabic Capital of Culture, the barracks were restored and opened as a cultural center six months ago. It is popular among Iraqi artists.
An Ottoman barracks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad has been converted into a cultural center where the country’s intellectuals, artists and writers gather.

As part of the 2013 Arabic Capital of Culture, the barracks were restored and opened as a cultural center six months ago. The barracks are especially popular among Iraqi intellectuals because they are close to Mutenebbi Street, which is known as Baghdad’s “cultural bazaar” and because the barracks’ garden was the scene of demonstrations by intellectuals during the British occupation.

“We come here every weekend and meet with our artist and writer friends,” said one intellectual, Ahmed Hasan. “This is the only place we can take a breath. Here we find a chance to express our thoughts and participate in events we like.” Sculptor Majid al-Siba echoed the comments, saying, “This is a place where literary writers and artists take a breath.”

“What we do is seen here by intellectuals,” said an Iraqi youth about the culture center. “We find a chance to meet intellectuals and writers every Friday here. This is why this place is important for us.” The barracks was built as a single-floor building in the era of Gov. Namık Paşa between 1861 and 1863 for the use of foot soldiers. Another floor was added at the time of Gov. Medet Paşa and served as a house for British officers and their families in 1917.
January/04/2014

vendredi 3 janvier 2014

Anatolia's oldest Parliament unveiled in Assos at cross paths of Plato and Aristotle

ÇANAKKALE - Anadolu Agency

The Parliament building in Çanakkale’s ancient city of Assos dates back 2,400 years ago. It was built by the members of one of the leading families in the city. AA photos
The Parliament building in Çanakkale’s ancient city of Assos dates back 2,400 years ago. It was built by the members of one of the leading families in the city. AA photos
The oldest Parliament building in the ancient era was established in the ancient city of Assos 2,400 years ago in the northwestern province of Çanakkale. The ancient city is located within the borders of the Ayvacık district. Home to Plato's second academy, Assos hosted another illustrious Greek philosopher, Aristotle, in the 4th century.

The head of the excavations in the ancient city, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University academic Professor Nurettin Arslan said the Parliament buildings were first discovered in 5th and 6th century B.C. in Athens and democracy extended to other countries after being improved there.

Older than Millet's Parliament

He said the earliest Parliament buildings in Anatolia had so far been believed to be built in 2nd B.C., adding, “For example Millet. The inscriptions on a building, which prove the building was a Parliament, can be seen in only three buildings in Anatolia, such as Millet, Aigia and Epirus.”

Arslan said research in recent years brought to light the inscription of the Parliament building in Assos.


HDN
Home to Plato's second academy, Assos hosted another
illustrious Greek philosopher, Aristotle, in the 4th
century. Does an ancient city needs more inspiration
to establish a Parliament?
He said, “This building in Assos was built by Ladomos and his wife, members of the one of leading families in the ancient city. The inscription dates back to the end of the 4th century B.C. Our examination shows that it is not the same with other examples in Anatolia. Unlike other Parliament buildings, these seats are made of wood in this building. It is stone in other assemblies. When you consider its plan, the nearest example to the Parliament in Assos is the one in the Athens agora, where people gathered to discuss administration, politics and trade affairs.”

Arslan said the illustrious philosopher Aristotle could be the reason for the establishment of the Parliament building in Assos. He said, “Because we know Aristotle stayed in Assos in the middle of the 4th century. We can also say Plato’s second academy was also established here. One is in Athens and the second branch is in Assos. Thanks to this academy, the people of Assos received significant information about democracy or the regime in Athens. After Aristotle left the city, this region was occupied by the Persians and people did not have the chance to realize this information in real life, in a manner quite like Aristotle’s forms. But when Alexander the Great set foot in Anatolia, the people of Assos realized the doctrines of Aristotle and built the first Parliament building in Anatolia.”

He noted the Parliament building dated back to 2,400 years ago, and said, “We can say Assos was the first city in history to be managed by philosophers.”
January/03/2014

'Visions of the Ottoman World in Renaissance Europe'

William Armstrong - william.armstrong@hdn.com.tr


'Visions of the Ottoman World in Renaissance Europe' by Andrei Pippidi (Oxford University Press, $50, 288 pages)


During the Renaissance, Europe regained self-confidence and underwent rapid social changes, despite of course being wracked with division and discord. It was also during the 16th century that the Ottoman Empire was at the pinnacle of its power, and lurked as a constant hostile presence on Europe’s eastern frontiers. Andrei Pippidi’s “Visions of the Ottoman World in Renaissance Europe” isn’t a political history of relations between the Ottomans and Western European states, but rather a history of the image of “the Turk” in Europe during the first stages of its evolution. Nevertheless, the vicissitudes of political fortune naturally had a big impact on the ideas that gained currency at the time. With the Ottoman expansion, the moral and religious challenge that Islam has presented to European culture since the 9th century became a serious menace, and the effects were felt both intellectually and emotionally.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/visions-of-the-ottoman-world-in-renaissance-europe.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60363&NewsCatID=474

Museum lovers spoiled for choice as number of facilities in Turkey on rise

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s 370 museums, 188 of which are affiliated with the ministry, serve millions of local and foreign history and culture aficionados every year.
Turkey’s 370 museums, 188 of which are affiliated with the ministry, serve millions of local and foreign history and culture aficionados every year.
Museum buffs have reason to smile in Turkey, with dozens of new facilities opening around the country to show off the nation’s heritage and artifacts.

The number of museums increased to 370 over the past three years with new ones such as the world’s largest mosaic museum, the Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the Kırşehir Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum, the Eskişehir Eti Archaeology Museum, the Aydın Museum, as well as the Tokat Archaeology and Ethnography Museum.

more. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/museum-lovers-spoiled-for-choice-as-number-of-facilities-in-turkey-on-rise.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60432&NewsCatID=385

mercredi 1 janvier 2014

Safranbolu in panoramic view

Wilco Van HERPEN - HÜRRİYET DAİLY NEWS

Safranbolu, a city with much history to be seen, contemporary and ancient times coalesce in this scenic arena

Safranbolu became more professional in its approach of tourism and became more popular for tourists. It is a cute, nice and photogenic place. Photo, Sena OK
Safranbolu became more professional in its approach of tourism and became more popular for tourists. It is a cute, nice and photogenic place. Photo, Sena OK
There is a man, Sena Ok, who together with Nihan Çınar, are the distributers of Sigma lenses, Velbon tripods and Swarovski binoculars ever since 2009. When I went to their office a couple of weeks ago, he proudly showed me some “toys for big boys” photography accessories. It was the GigaPan, some kind of miraculous machine that takes extraordinary panoramic photographs. I wanted to see how the machine worked, so I asked Sena if he would be interested in a trip to Safranbolu, which in my opinion, is one of the many interesting old Ottoman cities in Turkey.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/safranbolu-in-panoramic-view.aspx?pageID=238&nID=58933&NewsCatID=379

BONNE ANNEE


BONNE ANNEE 2014 

 

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