Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu Municipality’s fifth annual “Future Masters: 5th Traditional Arts Design Competition” with the theme of “loyalty” has started taking applications.
The competition, sponsored by Albayrak Holding, has been hailed by both local and international artists, who have submitted their works to the completion in varying mediums. The eight categories of the completion are Hüsn-i hat (calligraphy), Tezhip (manuscript illumination), Minyatür (Islamic miniature art), Ebrû (paper marbling), Çini (tiles), Cilt (binding), Kat'I (paper filigree or quilling), and Kalemişi (a combination of etching, engraving and relief printing).
The aims of the competition are to sustain interest in traditional arts in Turkey and bring together art-lovers from all around the world. The entry deadline to the Traditional Arts Design Competition, is Dec. 30, 2017 and the winners will be announced on Jan. 15, 2018.
The judging committee will hold evaluation meetings between Jan. 3-18, 2018. Following a detailed and meticulous elimination process, awards will be presented in a ceremony held on Feb. 24, 2018. The municipality believes opening the competition to international participation is a significant step regarding the development of traditional arts.
The top three ranking artists across eight categories will receive awards, and other artists who are deemed worthy will be presented with incentive awards.
The first prize winner will receive TL 12,000, the second prize winner will receive TL 8,000, and the third prize winner will receive TL 6,000. Two artists will receive incentive awards of TL 2,000 each.
In addition to the prize money, the top ranking artists will also have the opportunity to exhibit their works at the Zeytinburnu Culture and Art Center between Feb. 24 and Mar. 2.
When history of the world is considered, it can be clearly seen that all great civilizations have offered a viewpoint to humanity in the way of understanding the perception of reality, of life and how to comprehend the world. From arts to politics, from architecture to trade, from education to law, this point of view manifests itself in every field. It is precisely this point of view that separates Roman Civilization from Chinese, Indian from Greek, and Islamic Civilization from Western Civilization with both positive and negative aspects.
The competition aims to highlight that in order to comprehend a civilization accurately, its point of view must be understood. The way to an authentic comprehension lies in understanding the civilizations individually, how they perceive the world and how they created arts quintessentially.
Following hundreds of years of alienating ourselves from our own civilization, it is necessary to comprehend and convey what Islamic civilizations offer the world. The Muslim world must first recognize itself and thereby recognize its own art forms and find a way to reproduce them.
