A Brief Note on Alphabet Reform in Turkey

In Turkey, you can see examples of writing from the past everywhere. However, most people cannot read them because these writings on fountains, mosques and doors are written using a different alphabet than the one used today in Turkey. This old alphabet consists of Arabic letters with some additional...

God’s Word Embodied

OTTOMAN ART OF CALLIGRAPHY (Hüsnühat) by Ahmet Soysal Norgunk Publishing, 68 pp., 2004, ISBN: 978-975-8686-18-6 ‘And He taught Adam the names of all things.’ (Quran 2:31) The primary, universal and transcendent language which was taught to Adam doesn’t only consist of the voices which have a...

Modern and Postmodern in Turkey

MODERN AND BEYOND 1950-2000 (Modern ve Ötesi 1950-2000) by Fulya Erdemci, Semra Germaner, Orhan Koçak Istanbul Bilgi University Press, 499 pp., 2008, ISBN: 978-605-399-039-0 Galer’ists, The Art Environment of the 70’s (Galer’istler, 70’lerin Sanat Ortamı) by Meldâ Kaptana Kanat Books, İlhan...

The ‘Sublime Porte’ of Publishing

The centre of government for the Ottoman State was for centuries called Babiali – the Sublime Porte. It became the name of the surrounding historical area covering landmarks such as Saint Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and also the modern governmental buildings of the late 19th century. The...