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A collection of contemporary Islamic calligraphy and prayer beads opened to visitors at the Tophane-i Amire Culture and Art Center in Istanbul under the title "Silent Elegance."
Curated from collector Mehmet Cebi's holdings, the exhibition brings together roughly 200 prayer beads and 90 calligraphy works produced by 16 artists from different generations and styles.
The show runs daily through Aug. 29, offering a rare public look at contemporary interpretations of a centuries-old craft.
The calligraphy works on display span multiple classical scripts, including celi sulus, nesih, kufi, makili, celi divani, ta'lik and gubari.
Roughly half of the 90 pieces are hilye, traditional descriptive texts, while the other half are levha, standalone calligraphic panels.
Many incorporate verses from the Quran, prayers and quatrains, reflecting the religious and literary roots of the art form alongside its visual composition.
Project Director Metehan Kaptan said the works reflect a shift from classical calligraphy toward modern interpretations by artists who have earned international recognition in the traditional field.
According to Kaptan, visitors will encounter contemporary compositions rather than strictly classical calligraphy, with artists applying established scripts to new color palettes, scales and layouts throughout the exhibition space.
Among the featured works are pieces in which the chapters Fatiha and Fetih are rendered in celi sulus script.
In contrast, the complete text of the Quran is worked into a single composition using gubari sikeste script.
The pieces use acrylic and lacquer paint on sized paper, combining traditional textual content with materials and techniques associated with contemporary visual art.
The exhibition's prayer bead section traces a tradition for which Istanbul has served as a key center since the 16th century.
On display are pieces spanning from the Ottoman era to the Republic period, crafted by notable makers and reflecting a range of materials and techniques developed over centuries of continuous production in the city.
The prayer beads on display are made from materials including mother-of-pearl, coral, kuka nut, amber, necef stone and turquoise, alongside other rare natural materials.
Most of the roughly 200 pieces follow traditional 33-bead or 99-bead forms, presenting a range of craftsmanship styles tied to different periods and regions of production.
"Silent Elegance" is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 29 at the Tophane-i Amire Culture and Arts Center in Istanbul, with free admission.
The exhibition brings together contemporary calligraphy and prayer bead craftsmanship from 16 artists, offering visitors an extended opportunity to view both traditions before the show closes.
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