ISTANBUL TULIPS
Building on the legacy of the Istanbul Tulip, I reinterpret it on ceramic surfaces, setting it in dialogue with layers of Anatolian and Ottoman art or placing it against pastel-colored backgrounds that soften its striking presence. In these compositions, the tulip becomes both memory and metamorphosis, carrying its historic spirit into contemporary life.
Building on the legacy of the Istanbul Tulip, I reinterpret it on ceramic surfaces, setting it in dialogue with layers of Anatolian and Ottoman art or placing it against pastel-colored backgrounds that soften its striking presence. In these compositions, the tulip becomes both memory and metamorphosis, carrying its historic spirit into contemporary life.
In the early 18th century, the tulip became a cherished emblem of beauty and refinement in Ottoman culture. Among its many varieties, the so-called “Istanbul Tulip” stood out with its slender form and almond-shaped petals, immortalized in the Lale Mecmuasi (Tulip Album, 1725). This album, carefully studied by Turhan Baytop in his book Istanbul Lalesi, remains one of the most important records of tulip cultivation and aesthetics during the Tulip Era.
Building on this legacy, I reinterpret the Istanbul Tulip on ceramic surfaces, setting it in dialogue with other layers of Anatolian and Ottoman art, or placing against pastel-colored grounds that soften its striking presence. Through these compositions, the tulip becomes both memory and metamorphosis — each work carrying the historic spirit of the flower into contemporary life.
Building on this legacy, I reinterpret the Istanbul Tulip on ceramic surfaces, setting it in dialogue with other layers of Anatolian and Ottoman art, or placing against pastel-colored grounds that soften its striking presence. Through these compositions, the tulip becomes both memory and metamorphosis — each work carrying the historic spirit of the flower into contemporary life.
