The "Silent Elegance" exhibition, featuring collector Mehmet Çebi's collection of contemporary calligraphy, religious art and prayer beads, is welcoming visitors at the Tophane-i Amire Culture and Arts Center in Istanbul.
Curated by Metehan Kaptan, the exhibition brings together works by 16 artists from different generations and artistic backgrounds. It explores how traditional forms of Islamic art can be reinterpreted through modern approaches to color, scale and composition.
The calligraphy section features works in several traditional scripts, including thuluth, Kufic and naskh. Among the highlights are compositions featuring Quranic verses and a work incorporating the entire Quran into a calligraphic design.
Other pieces use acrylic and stain-paint techniques on specially prepared paper, while some adopt free-form compositions that resemble abstract paintings at first glance. The works demonstrate how calligraphy can evolve while maintaining its traditional foundations.
The exhibition's prayer bead collection highlights the craftsmanship and variety of materials used in an art form with a long history in Istanbul.
