Engin's refuge: Istanbul - June-July-August 2010

I have visited "Legendary Istanbul: From Byzantion to Istanbul -

8000 Years of a Capital" at Sakip Sabanci Museum, "Officially Friendship: Japanese-Turkish Art Exhibition" at Ciragan Palace, "Botero" at Pera Museum, "Contemporary Artists between Italy and Turkey", "Tatarli: The Return of Colours" at Yapi Kredi Cultural Activities, Arts and Activities, "Cent Pour Cent" at Institut Français d'Istanbul, Umeko Okano at Meke Sanat, Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya), The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), The Great Palace Mosaic Museum, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Archaeological Museum, and Ihlamur Kasri (Ihlamur Pavilion). Yay!
August 2010 - Hidiv Kasri (Hidiv Pavilion), Yildiz Sarayi (Yildiz Palace), "Japan New Media Arts in Istanbul" and "Ikuo Hirayama: Turkey, a crossroad culture between west and east" at Pera Museum

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Sakip Sabanci Museum is a must-see place. Its garden is really beautiful. The gallery is larger than I expected. The title of the exhibition is somewhat misleading or maybe incorrect. I am not sure whether Istanbul was called Byzantion 8000 years ago. Nor was it a capital then. Anyways, the exhibition starts with the historical artifacts found at the sites as early as 6000 BC ends with the fall of Ottomans. Good job!

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Ciragan Palace. This was the first time I've been to this palace (that is, I saw it from inside for the first time). Its interior is fantastic! Let me put it this way: I was forcing myself to look at the painting and the kimonos at the exhibition instead of the beautiful relics, ceiling, and the walls. I really like the paintings by Shigero Nakanishi.

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The Botero Exhibition at Pera Museum was as good as the others. Simply: fat-ladies, disproportional bodies and things, dull colors, dull faces, states with no dynamicity. (Ok, you know, I am not an artist).

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Good job, YKY!
This art piece is made of cholocates. They looked delicious. Here I am pretending to eat some :)

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It was an interesting experience to be inside a wooden tomb from c. 400 BC.
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I am at Institut Français d'Istanbul. You know, I'm a lion.

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I've been to Umeko Okano exhibition at Meke Sanat. I couldn't take photos 'cause it was forbidden :( I like her paintings very much. You can visit her website here. I will probably use some of her techniques in my future leisure work.

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Ayasofya always impresses me... makes me childishly happy... connects me to both reality and fantasy. Here is a wiki for you :)

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Sultanahmet Camii.. Oh dear!
Its four columns support the main dome. Man, they're gigantic!

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The Great Palace Mosaic Museum. This time I realized that one can make "pictures" out of mosaics in various shapes and orders.

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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Huge carpets!

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Topkapi Palace
To the director of the museum: Airconditioners please for the sake of everybody and artifacts!

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Istanbul Archaeological Museum: It's a life-time experience! I was about to cry when I saw some of statues, relics, and sarcophagus. Ok, next time you see me there, just pass by me.

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Oh, here, us at the Ihlamur Kasri (Ihlamur Pavilion)

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At Hidiv Kasri (Hidiv Pavilion)

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At Yildiz Sarayi (Yildiz Palace and Park). It's forbidden to take photos from inside the palace. Here are two photos: the first one is from its garden, a restricted area and the other one is from the park.