Turkey’s leading participation finance institution Kuveyt Türk continues to transfer cultural heritage to future generations and to organize exhibitions that leave a mark on cultural and artistic life, guided by the principle We grow with our values. Within this framework, the Ottoman Traces in Rumelia exhibition presents a distinguished collection in which many religious and civil architectural examples of Rumelia, ranging from mosques and bridges to madrasas and bazaars, are rendered visible through the refined style of miniature art.
Prepared with the contributions of Kuveyt Türk, the Ottoman Traces in Rumelia exhibition has opened its doors to art lovers at the Single Dome Hall of the Tophane i Amire Cultural and Arts Center. The opening was attended by Ufuk Uyan, Chief Executive Officer of Kuveyt Türk, the miniaturist Gülçin Anmaç, her students, and art enthusiasts. The exhibition will be open to visitors until Thursday 25 December 2025, except Mondays, between 10.00 and 18.00.
Rumelian cities still carry the courtesy of our civilization today
Speaking at the opening, Ufuk Uyan, Chief Executive Officer of Kuveyt Türk, stated the following. At Kuveyt Türk, we regard the transmission of our civilization’s aesthetic and intellectual heritage to future generations as an important responsibility. The exhibition that has brought us together today is a strong reflection of this approach. The Rumelian geography, where the Ottoman Empire built cities shaped by justice, knowledge, and wisdom for centuries, is one of the most significant historical and cultural regions of our civilization. Rumelia signifies not only a geography, but also fraternity, elegance, tolerance, and a climate in which different cultures coexist. The architectural, cultural, and human traces that still breathe in Balkan cities today are vivid witnesses to the powerful legacy our ancestors left on these lands. Ms Gülçin’s deep interest in Rumelia and her mastery of miniature art are felt in every detail of this collection. We are delighted to bring this exhibition together with art lovers, as it carries to the present day, through the delicacy of miniature art, the memories of our artisan ancestors that continue to live in Balkan cities. I would like to thank everyone who contributed.
I reinterpreted the traces living in the memory of Rumelia through the ancient language of miniature art
Miniature artist Gülçin Anmaç, who prepared all the works in the exhibition, shared the following reflections specific to the exhibition. “The cities built by the Ottomans in Rumelia have for centuries whispered to us the elegance of a civilization through their mosques, madrasas, bazaars, bridges, and all layers of architecture. However, some of these works were lost over time, while others remained only in narratives or archives. With this project, I sought to make the traces in Rumelia visible again through the possibilities of traditional miniature art. While preparing each work, I examined archival sources, researched the plans of lost structures, created compositions in adherence to the classical style, and after a long period of work, brought these miniatures to life. I endeavored to reexpress the cultural and architectural heritage that the Ottomans left in Rumelia through the refined language of art.”
A journey into the memory of Rumelia with 35 original miniatures
The works in the exhibition focus on Ottoman structures in 11 countries and 29 cities, stretching from Skopje to Belgrade and from Thessaloniki to Sarajevo. Lost mosques, tombs, bridges, and architectural complexes are made visible again through the artist’s meticulous research and original interpretation. Each miniature serves as a narrative that carries historical memory to today’s art lovers through art.
Who is miniature artist Gülçin Anmaç
One of the leading figures of contemporary Turkish miniature art, Gülçin Anmaç completed her studies in the Department of Social Anthropology at the Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University and then earned a master’s degree in the Cultural Heritage Conservation Program at Kadir Has University. She began her work in miniature and illumination with her late teacher Cahide Keskiner and later continued her studies with the late Nusret Çolpan. Awarded the title Bearer of Intangible Cultural Heritage Traditional Turkish Handicrafts Artist by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Anmaç has participated in more than one hundred exhibitions, festivals, and art events both in Turkey and abroad and has held numerous solo exhibitions. Her miniatures have been published in more than sixty books. She has produced designs for documentaries, tile panels, animations, gift objects, and various art projects. The artist is known for developing original designs while remaining faithful to the classical miniature tradition.