Turkish tradition and Islamic art came together as a renowned artist from Turkey opened his first exhibition in the Kingdom on Feb. 28. Imsail Acar mounted a solo gallery featuring 43 of his paintings at the Consulate General of Turkey here until March 1. Acar introduced his works as a combination of Turkish traditional aspects and Islamic art in calligraphic form. His paintings revealed colorful modifications of different Turkish lifestyles and the histories of Turkish sultans. The works came in seven collections: Pomegranate, Sultans, Istanbul, Turban, Kaftans, Flowers and Armor. Acar said that he was very proud to present his works with a common Islamic touch here in this city around 70 kilometers away from the cradle of Islam, Makkah. He said, “Da Vinci and many other big names in painting depicted Christianity. But I am a Muslim. When you examine the history of art, most masterpieces convey Christianity. There is no single Islamic icon or symbol. So, I have to explore my own tradition and create my own aesthetics. I have searched for our own symbols for 20 years. “There are two of my paintings which are to be sold on auction depicting the sword of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The paintings are kept in the Islamic Museum in Instanbul,” he said. Acar is one of the most renowned Turkish artists in the art world today. He graduated from the College of Fine Arts of the Marmara University in Istanbul with honors. He studied wall painting, gravure, printing, wood press, pattern Turkish art, sociology of art, design, Byzantine art, aesthetics of art, calligraphy, decoration and illumination with leading academics and artists. Named “The Most Successful Artist of Turkey” in 2004, Acar's paintings have been exhibited at many galleries within Turkey and abroad, as well as in museums and private collections. He has put up over 60 solo and over 40 joint exhibitions. In his paintings, East appears to meet West, with him viewing tens of thousands of years' history in a contemporary way. The Consul General of Turkey Saleh Motlu Sen told the Saudi Gazette that this gallery is not only an art function but also a chance to exchange mutual cultures. The paintings represent different aspects of Turkish culture, which is a combination of historical Turkish traditions and Islamic civilization, where Istanbul was once the capital of the Islamic caliphate, he said. “This gallery reconnects the old Turkish folklore with Islamic cultures in the form of paintings. You will notice that art is a universal language that can efficiently link different kinds of cultures, ideas, concepts and norms more than diplomatic speeches or meetings,” the Consul said. __
