Saturday, March 14, 2015

10 a.m. Refreshments     10:30 a.m.  Program

From Tradition to Modernity:

the Art of the Anatolian Kilim

with

Ali Riza Tuna

Independent Researcher &

Collector, Geneva

Anatolian Kilims have been seen mostly as folk art and their appreciation has been based on closeness to traditional icons and tribal culture.  While brewed from tradition, examples of Anatolian kilims have also reached a quintessence of form and color, which raises them to the level of a universal fine art.  In the West, the emergence of modern art has required a definite break from the traditional fine arts in the 19th century.  On the contrary, Anatolian kilims have achieved the same or even better level of aesthetic qualities through centuries of refinement in symbolism and abstraction by the civilizations of Anatolia.  How can freedom and novelty be achieved through tradition?  This talk uses visual comparisons between works of western modern art (paintings from impressionists, abstracts, Picassso, Matisse, etc..) and Anatolian kilims. It traces parallels in the form and color, and abstraction levels between the two mediums and guides the audience through new ways of discovering the aesthetics of the Anatolian kilim while proposing new appreciation criteria.

Ali Riza Tuna was born in Istanbul and graduated as an Engineer in France.  He is a retired manager from an international company in Geneva, Switzerland.  Since 1980, he has been passionate about Anatolian textiles as a collector, but also as independent researcher and lecturer.  He has presented papers at international carpet conferences, and loaned pieces from his collection to several exhibitions.  Mr. Tuna currently focuses overall on the aesthetics and design development of the Turkish rugs of 13th -16th centuries, as well as on the study of kilims and other weavings of Anatolia.  He invites TMA members to bring examples of kilims to show & tell, particularly ones that can be related to the theme of his presentation.

Community Hall, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church

1343 Ocean Park Blvd.,  Santa Monica, CA 90405

Admission:    TMA/SC members  Gratis . . . . .  Guests  $10