The exhibition showcased a number of designer/makers resident and working with the craft and manufacturing culture of 21st century Turkey. Previous to the modern period, craft in Turkey was largely an anonymous pursuit maintained by the values of the Ottoman guild systems. As industrialization took in the modern Republic of Turkey hold the nature of craft changed to an activity where the style and identity of the designer became important. Today the situation has reversed as designers make their own pieces in tandem with craftsmen and in some instances as makers themselves.
CRAFT AND SYMBOL: THE EVOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN IN TURKEY
Past Exhibition
This exhibition highlighted the historical context of design in Turkey, noting a shift from a rejection of the past, traditions and craft, to an acceptance and integration of local cultural elements in design.
