Japan to host Ottoman polymath's masterpieces

By Emrah Guney

ISTANBUL (AA) – Works by renowned Ottoman miniaturist Matrakci Nasuh are set to go on display on the other side of the world.

The display – ‘16th Century Genius Matrakci Nasuh’ – will run from Sept. 1-8 at Tokyo’s Shibuya Culture Center Owada.

It is supported by Turkey’s presidency and designed by the Istanbul Intercultural Art Dialogues Association.

Nasuh (1480-1564) was an accomplished miniaturist -- an art form of the Ottoman period. Practitioners depicted events realistically but stayed loyal to Islamic art conventions. The result was a naturalistic style focusing on panoramas.

Nasuh’s most famous works are a cityscape of Istanbul and volumes representing Sultan Suleiman I’s 1535-36 campaign in Iraq and Iran.

However, he was also a talented mathematician, historian, linguist and soldier.

Anadolu Agency is the global communications partner for the exhibition, which was previously shown in Sarajevo, Belgrade, Antalya, Istanbul and Vienna.

The exhibition will display 41 works recreated by 12 female artists, including maps, calligraphy and prints.

As part of the exhibition in Japan, a conference will be held by Turkish architect Sinan Genim about “Matrakci Nasuh and his maps” on Sept. 5.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, exhibition curator Beste Gursu said there were many unnoticed similarities between Turkish and Japanese culture.

“It is both an honor and an important responsibility to explain Matrakci Nasuh with his tiles, calligraphy, and verses,” he said.

The exhibition will be displayed in Paris, Washington, Rome, Budapest and Ankara.

In 2013, UNESCO included Matrakci Nasuh in its “Remembrance and Celebration Anniversaries” agenda to mark the 460th year of his death.