Fine art gicleè print, 42×29.7 cm (each)

Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350 gsm · 100% cotone

Edition of 12           

2021 

The study of variations in motifs presented in Anatolian rugs has been ongoing for almost a year, focusing on the abstraction language used in their geometric designs. Stylized natural figures act as an essential foundation for understanding Anatolian folkloric elements, particularly in the tradition of rug weaving. In Anatolia, bird motifs carry a wide range of meanings: owls and ravens are associated with bad luck, while doves, pigeons, and nightingales symbolize good luck. In the mythology of fortune-telling, birds represent longing and the expectation of news.

The project involves resolving these symbols as alphabetic elements of Anatolian symbolism and identifying their correspondences in Western graphic iconography. Establishing a comparative understanding of how epistemological differences of time and context shape cultures and visual language is a primary objective. The concept of “otherness” encompasses a wide range of arguments addressing political and cultural tensions since the emergence of nation-states. Contemporary discussions on otherness, alienation, orientalism, exoticization, and assimilation continue to be produced by researchers, often reaching a limited audience. I believe that cultural otherness is a universal issue; therefore, increased discourse on the subject will encourage folks to approach each other.