Turkish Traditional Iznik Ceramics and Tiles by Turkish Artist Mehmet GÃ¼rsoy

Exquisite Iznik Ceramics on view at Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture has organised the 22nd edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival. SIAF will run until January 21, 2020.

It is such a treat to see amazing masters of traditional arts, such as calligraphy, tezhip (illumination), ceramic arts, book-binding arts, etc at the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival. One such exhibition is 'Turkish Traditional Ceramics and Tiles' by Mehmet GÃ¼rsoy. The opening of the exhibition was attended by HE Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture; Mohammed Al Qaseer, Head of Cultural Affairs and General Coordinator at the Department of Culture; and Farah Qassim Mohammed, Islamic Arts Festival Executive; in the presence of the artists, media and esteemed guests.

Mehmet GÃ¼rsoy presenting his ceramic works to HE Abdullah Al Owais and Mohammed Al Qaseer / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Named after the town in western Anatolia where it was first made popular, Iznik pottery is a revival of the vividly painted ceramics and tiles of the Ottoman Empire. Famed Ottoman artists of the late 15th to 17th century captured vibrant colours of precious stones under the glaze of the finest Turkish Iznik pottery or Cini.

Mehmet GÃ¼rsoy (1950) is highly regarded as Turkey's most exceptional master Cinici or maker of Cini, based on the principles and forms from the 15th to 17th centuries. He presents various motifs in his ceramic art, from tulips, roses, hyacinths, to ships, animals, trees, and carnations, adorned with well crafted and detailed patterns.

He is a renowned ceramic artist who is reviving the Iznik Ceramic Art, nearly lost at the end of the 17th century. He was a private of Professor Muhsin Deminorat from the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul. For 35 years he is making ceramic art and is well known for striving to revive Nicaea ceramics. In 2009 he was awarded the 'People Living Treasure' prize by UNESCO.