By
Heidi Trautmann
This
ancient art form Turkish Miniature Painting originally comes from Persia at the
beginning of the 16th Century and it is written that Persian artists
or scholars closed their schools there and went to Istanbul where they opened
new schools. It is rather interesting to read the history and its philosophy, and
if you are interested you find it under https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_miniature
Some
years ago I saw the beautiful film “Waiting for
Heaven” (Cenneti Beklerken) by Derviş Zaim, the famous Turkish Cypriot film
maker, a film on the basis of the 17th
century Miniature Painting, and the exhibition made me think of it.
I had never before met the artist Arzu Pehlivan; she is from
Turkey and has been living in Northern Cyprus for the last four years. Her art
work follows the rules of this ancient art form and she is using the colours
that were predominantly being used.
Over the centuries the art form has undergone changes; in the
beginning it was used to decorate manuscripts, a sort of book art, today the
art form is even still taught at university but not restricted to the miniature
size.
The art was also used for scientific books on botany and
animals, there was a period called the Tulips Period, and you will find the
Tulip represented in many of Arzu Pehlivan’s paintings. Unfortunately I could not find any
information laid out at the exhibition so it is advisable to get the
information if wanted from internet.
The exhibition is still open for viewing at the Girne
Municipality Art Gallery until March 02, 2019. Viewing times Mon to Fri 10:00 –
17:00 hrs. and on Sat. 10:00 to 15:00 hrs.