The "Sacred Path: Kaaba Coverings from the Ottoman Empire to the Present and Hajj Remembrances Exhibition" was opened on Friday, February 19, at the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, under the auspices of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.
The exhibition, which will remain open for a month, could be visited free of charge between 10.00-16.00 on weekdays, in accordance with the pandemic measures.
In his statement regarding the exhibition, Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "We attach importance to bringing together the values of the world of culture and civilisation to which we belong with the younger generations. The works of art in the exhibition have a valuable and special place in the field of arts as well as in our world of faith. We welcome everyone to our exhibition, which offers the opportunity to see the memories of the sacred voyage up close."
A historical voyage
The exhibition embarks on a historical voyage of the holy lands of Mecca, Madinah and Jerusalem from the Ottoman period to the present day. Hasan Mert Kaya undertook the exhibition's curatorship, which was compiled from the rare works acquired by the collector Bekir Kantarcı around thirty years at home and abroad.
The installation of the Sacred Path Exhibition was created on the basis of the 'Path' metaphor. The exhibition, which covers a voyage starting from İstanbul as the capital of the Ottoman State en route to the holy lands in the provision of services for centuries, consists of sections where artworks are displayed such as "Surre Regiment's Procession and the Mahmil al-Sharif (the Blessed Carrier) Moving towards Hejaz", "Historical Hejaz Railway", "Services Provided by the Ottoman for the Holy Lands", "Kaaba Covers and the Prophet Muhammad's Tomb Covers in the Ottoman Era", "Kaaba Covers in the post-Ottoman Era", "Objects and Memoirs from the Holy Lands," "Nostalgic Souvenirs from the Hajj in Early Times" and "Love for the Kaaba and the Holy Lands in Art".
In addition to the main exhibition area, there are also videos and infographics waiting for visitors where the historical stages of the Kaaba and important services provided in the Ottoman era for the holy lands are presented.
Rare works of our spiritual and art world
Among the prominent works in the exhibition are such pieces from Bekir Kantarcı Collection as rare Kaaba covers from different periods, illustrations of belt scripts for the Kaaba covers, patches making up the special corners of the Kaaba covers, bags and chests used in the Surre Procession, various medals and documents related to the Hejaz Railway, diplomatic cables from the period when Hejaz was under the Ottoman rule, and procuration and testimonials related to Hajj in the Ottoman era. The exhibition also displays a Kaaba-patterned Hilya al-Sharif by Kazasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi, one of the renowned calligraphers of the time, as well as pieces by Abdullah Zühdi Efendi, the calligrapher of the scripts for the Masjid al-Nabawi.
The exhibition, which contains artworks on display related to the holy lands that possess a great value for us not only faith-wise but also art-wise in the culture and civilisation we belong to, brings together rich contents including video films and visual display sections with the visitors.