ON
← Back to feed
Turkish artist recreates Istanbul panorama
TR🎭 Culture11 days ago

Turkish artist recreates Istanbul panorama

Turkish artist Melikşah Soytürk has completed a two-year restoration project to recreate and enlarge a 16th-century panoramic drawing of Istanbul originally made by Dutch artist Melchior Lorich. The original artwork, created during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, is currently housed at Leiden University Library in the Netherlands. Soytürk expanded the original 11.4-meter piece to nearly 19 meters, restoring damaged sections using scientific methods and a special ink technique named after his mentor, Cemal Akyıldız. His version includes 22 sections and highlights historical landmarks like the Süleymaniye Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Soytürk aims to present the completed work to Turkish authorities and hopes to display it internationally, including in New York and Istanbul. The restored panorama showcases 16th-century Istanbul's skyline and includes details of Ottoman-era urban life and diplomatic interactions.

Turkish artist Melikşah Soytürk has unveiled a newly restored and expanded 16th-century panorama of Istanbul at the Chicago Turkish Festival. The work, which took two years to complete, is a recreation and restoration of a historical piece originally drawn by Dutch artist Melchior Lorich between 1555 and 1559. Soytürk, who has lived in the United States since 2012, said the project aimed to share Turkish history and culture with American audiences through this visual representation of the city's past. The original panorama, preserved at Leiden University Library in the Netherlands, is regarded as the earliest known panoramic depiction of Istanbul by a Western artist. Soytürk used scientific methods to restore and enlarge the original 11.4-meter artwork to nearly 19 meters. This expansion allowed for greater visibility of intricate details, with the new version consisting of 22 sections. The artist said the restoration process involved reconstructing parts of the artwork that had deteriorated over time, bringing back elements that had been lost to age. Soytürk explained that the restored panorama captures the city's 16th-century skyline, featuring landmarks such as the Süleymaniye Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Maiden’s Tower, and the restored Byzantine walls. In addition to these structures, the artwork includes reconstructed sections that reveal aspects of Ottoman-era urban life and diplomacy. These include depictions of boats belonging to German and Persian delegations in the Golden Horn and what may be an image of renowned Ottoman polymath Matrakçı Nasuh alongside Lorich. The artist developed a unique ink technique, which he learned from late Turkish State Artist Cemal Akyıldız. He named this method “Cemali” in honor of his mentor. Soytürk emphasized that the restoration process was not just about preserving the past but also about making it accessible to contemporary audiences. He believes that the work should be displayed in prominent locations around the world, including major art centers and venues such as the United Nations headquarters. Soytürk plans to complete the final section of the panorama, which depicts the Eyüp district, before presenting the finished work to Turkish authorities. He also hopes to exhibit the artwork in New York and eventually establish a permanent display in Istanbul. The artist called upon public institutions and cultural organizations to support the exhibition, noting that such efforts would require substantial financial backing. The project highlights the intersection of historical preservation and modern artistic interpretation. By expanding and restoring the original panorama, Soytürk has created a larger-than-life depiction of Istanbul’s past, offering viewers a glimpse into the city’s rich heritage. His work serves as both a tribute to the legacy of Melchior Lorich and a celebration of Turkish culture and history.

3 reports

Daily Sabah logoDaily SabahParty-alignedCenterFactual 85Objective 8011 days ago
Traditional Islamic art finds new expression at Istanbul exhibition

The 'Silent Elegance' exhibition in Istanbul showcases contemporary Islamic art, including calligraphy and prayer beads, curated by Metehan Kaptan. Featuring works by 16 artists, the exhibition explores modern reinterpretations of traditional Islamic art through innovative techniques like acrylic and stain-paint methods. Highlighting both historical and contemporary practices, the display includes Quranic calligraphy, intricate prayer bead collections made from rare materials, and insights from collector Mehmet Çebi on the cultural significance of these art forms. Çebi emphasizes the evolving nature of tradition and the role of collecting in revitalizing cultural heritage. The exhibition is open to the public at no cost.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a neutral description of an art exhibition focused on Islamic traditions and their modern interpretations. There is no overt political commentary, ideological framing, or emphasis on partisan perspectives. The tone remains objective, focusing on artistic and cultural aspects, as

Why factuality (85): The article provides detailed information about the 'Silent Elegance' exhibition, including the curator, participating artists, types of artwork featured, and quotes from the collector. While no primary source document was available, the information aligns with typical reporting on cultural exhibiti

Why objectivity (80): The article presents the exhibition and its themes in a neutral manner, focusing on the artistic and cultural aspects. However, there is a slight promotional tone in the quotes from Mehmet Çebi, which may suggest a more positive or celebratory perspective rather than strictly objective reporting.

Hurriyet Daily News logoHurriyet Daily NewsParty-alignedCenterFactual 85Objective 8012 days ago
‘Silent Elegance’ exhibition opens at Tophane-i Amire

The 'Silent Elegance' exhibition, showcasing contemporary calligraphy, hilye, and prayer beads from collector Mehmet Çebi's collection, has opened at the Tophane-i Amire Culture and Arts Center in Istanbul. The exhibition features works by 16 artists across generations and artistic traditions, blending traditional calligraphy with modern aesthetics. It includes approximately 200 prayer beads and 90 calligraphy works, with half of the latter being hilyes. Project Director Metehan Kaptan emphasized the fusion of classical calligraphy with contemporary styles and noted the historical significance of the prayer beads, which reflect craftsmanship traditions dating back to the 16th century. The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until August 29 and is free to attend.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a neutral description of a cultural exhibition without any political commentary, framing, or emphasis on ideological positions. It focuses solely on the event, its featured artworks, and logistical details, making it apolitical in nature.

Why factuality (85): The article provides specific details about the exhibition, including the number of artists, types of artwork, quotes from the project director, and visitor information. These details align with typical reporting on cultural events and are consistent with what would be expected from a reputable news

Why objectivity (80): The tone is informative and descriptive, focusing on the content and significance of the exhibition. While there is some promotional language ('modern works by calligraphers who have received international recognition'), the overall presentation remains neutral and does not appear to favor any parti

Hurriyet Daily News logoHurriyet Daily NewsParty-alignedCenterFactual 85Objective 7516 days ago
Turkish artist recreates Istanbul panorama

Turkish artist Melikşah Soytürk has completed a two-year restoration project to recreate and enlarge a 16th-century panoramic drawing of Istanbul originally made by Dutch artist Melchior Lorich. The original artwork, created during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, is currently housed at Leiden University Library in the Netherlands. Soytürk expanded the original 11.4-meter piece to nearly 19 meters, restoring damaged sections using scientific methods and a special ink technique named after his mentor, Cemal Akyıldız. His version includes 22 sections and highlights historical landmarks like the Süleymaniye Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Soytürk aims to present the completed work to Turkish authorities and hopes to display it internationally, including in New York and Istanbul. The restored panorama showcases 16th-century Istanbul's skyline and includes details of Ottoman-era urban life and diplomatic interactions.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a cultural restoration project involving a Turkish artist and does not engage with political issues, policies, or figures. There is no framing that suggests a political bias; the content remains neutral and descriptive of the artistic achievement.

Why factuality (85): The article provides detailed information about the restoration project by Turkish artist Melikşah Soytürk, including the historical context of the original 16th-century panorama by Melchior Lorich and its current location at Leiden University Library. It mentions the technical aspects of the restor

Why objectivity (75): The article presents the artist's perspective and quotes him directly, which can be seen as promotional. The phrase 'we nationalized it' suggests a potential nationalist angle, though not overtly biased. The overall tone is informative but leans slightly towards celebrating the artist's achievement.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories