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.
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic bottle vase, Ø 11 cm, h. 25 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic bottle vase (detail), Ø 11 cm, h. 25 cm
Istanbul Tulips / cylindrical ceramic vase, Ø 15 cm, h. 28 cm
Istanbul Tulips / cylindrical ceramic vase, Ø 15 cm, h. 28 cm
Istanbul Tulips / conical ceramic vase, Ø 15 cm, h. 32 cm
Istanbul Tulips / cylindrical ceramic vase (detail), Ø 15 cm, h. 28 cm
Istanbul Tulips / cylindrical ceramic vases, each Ø 15 cm, h. 28 cm
Istanbul Tulips / long-necked ceramic vase, Ø 14 cm, h. 27 cm
Istanbul Tulips / bulbous ceramic vase, Ø 18 cm, h. 25 cm
Istanbul Tulips / long-necked ceramic vase (detail), Ø 14 cm, h. 27 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic vases with a globular top, each Ø 16 cm, h. 30 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic vase with a globular top, Ø 16 cm, h. 30 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic vase with a globular top, Ø 16 cm, h. 30 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic bowls, Ø 20 cm, h. 6 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic bowls, Ø 20 cm, h. 6 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic bowls, Ø 20 cm, h. 6 cm
Istanbul Tulips: Single Tulip I / ceramic plate, Ø 30 cm
Istanbul Tulips: Single Tulip II / ceramic plate, Ø 30 cm
Istanbul Tulips: Single Tulip I & II / ceramic plates (detail), each Ø 30 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic tile panel, h. 40 × w. 40 cm
Istanbul Tulips: The Dancer / ceramic tile panel, h. 40 × w. 40 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic tile panel, h. 40 × w. 40 cm
Istanbul Tulips: Red Sky / ceramic tile panel, h. 20 × w. 40 cm
Istanbul Tulips: Red Sky / ceramic tile panel (detail), h. 20 × w. 40 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic cups with handles, each Ø 7 cm, h. 7 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic cups with handles, each Ø 7 cm, h. 7 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic cup with handle, each Ø 7 cm, h. 7 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic cups with handles, each Ø 7 cm, h. 7 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic cups with handles, each Ø 7 cm, h. 7 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic cups with handles, each Ø 7 cm, h. 7 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic bowl, Ø 26 cm, h. 6 cm
Istanbul Tulips / ceramic tray, Ø 30 cm, h. 3 cm
