istanbul to host international

Istanbul to host international conference on oriental carpets

Istanbul to host international conference on oriental carpets

Istanbul will host the International Conference on Oriental Carpets

(ICOC) April 19-22, with the Swiss�tel serving as conference

headquarters.

Under the supervision of Mehmet �etinkaya, chair of the local

organizing committee, preparations have long been under way for this

important cultural event. The conference will have academic sessions,

including presentations on Turkish, Egyptian, Persian, Indian and

Caucasian carpets. In addition, there will be programs on historical

and archeological aspects of carpets, as well as design, costumes and

scientific analysis. The presenters will be from 22 different

countries and talks will be given in English, Turkish or German with

simultaneous translation offered.

Special exhibitions are being prepared for display in historic

locations throughout the city, extending from Sultanahmet to

B�y�kdere. These exhibitions are scheduled to coincide with the

conference, with private opening receptions for attendees.

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (TIEM) will host two of the

exhibitions. Situated across from the remains of the Hippodrome in

Sultanahmet, the museum is housed in the 16th century Ibrahim Pasa

Palace, once the home to the grand vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent.

This is a chance to view a collection of extremely rare carpets, many

of which have never been exhibited to the public before. TIEM will

also host a show of 99 rare ikat coats from the private collection of

Mehmet �etinkaya. The majority of coats are from the 19th century,

with some pieces dating from the 18th century.

In the Has Ahirlar of Topkapi Palace there will be an exhibition of 92

textiles from the palace collection. This particular show has been

funded by the Ko� Foundation and includes silk prayer textiles from

Chios Island, Turkish prayer rugs, and Ottoman panels. After the ICOC

conference, this collection will remain open for the general public.

�etinkaya personally selected each piece for the display and said, "I

found lost treasures in the Topkapi collection."

The Vakiflar Carpet Museum in Sultanahmet is undergoing major

renovations that are scheduled for completion in time for the

conference. Currently housed in the sultan's loge of the Blue Mosque,

the collection of carpets will be moved to a new home near the Aya

Sofya Museum, in the Caferaga Medressesi. This building, designed by

master architect Sinan, with its domes and high ceilings, makes it a

perfect location for exhibitions. The exterior of the building is

currently being restored, but inside will be state-of-the-art display

areas for the new carpet museum.

Also in Sultanahmet the Darphane will hold a special exhibition of the

private collection of the late Josephine Powell. Only about half of

the items that will be on display have been exhibited before. The show

will include rare kilims, camel bags, grain sacks and black nomadic

tents. Powell's photographs, documenting vanishing Anatolian village

life will accompany the textile exhibit.

The 15th century Tophane will host a show of items from several

private collections of Anatolian textiles. Among the 176 pieces on

display will be Anatolian carpets, kilims and cushions, as well as

examples of Ottoman embroidery, �atma (patchwork) and suzanis.

The Sadberk Hanim Museum will host an exhibition that includes a rare

collection of very fine �atma.

In addition to all of the exhibitions taking place during the ICOC,

there will be a dealers fair held at the Swiss�tel. Open every day of

the conference, �etinkaya stressed that participation in the dealers

fair was very controlled. "These are not just any pieces from any

shop. They are the best and highest quality. They had to be just the

right pieces to be included," he explained.

For �etinkaya, one of the biggest challenges he has faced in the

preparations for the conference has been trying to coordinate

activities at several venues spread out across the city. "In the West

it is easier because they already have the infrastructure to have

several exhibition spaces in different locations," he said. The

organizing committee has been procuring funding, selecting pieces to

be shown, overseeing the cleaning and restoration of items, many which

have never been cleaned before, as well as overseeing building

restoration. But when the conference begins in April their work will

not have been in vain as they have the chance to show the world the

best of Anatolian textiles and hospitality. �etinkaya summed it up

appropriately, "I am in the process of creating a huge feast."

For more information on ICOC and the upcoming conference visit