UNBOUND BY REALISM
For centuries, wealthy rulers of the Islamic world commissioned books rich in beautiful paintings. Referred to as “miniatures” by scholars because of their size, these precious works of art reside today in prestigious museum and private collections. Though inspired by Ottoman miniatures of the 16th to 19th centuries, Turkish artist Ayse Keskin Uysal’s paintings are also in dialogue with contemporary aesthetics and meanings. Unfettered by Western ideas of realism, they present dream-like visions that weave together the traditional, the historical, the mythical, and the modern. Many of Ayse’s paintings can be found in museum collections.
Be sure to click on the square thumbnail artwork images to see the larger, complete artworks, and to discover the fascinating cultural references Ayse includes in her paintings.
Adam and Eve
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 35 cm, Artist’s Collection
Whirling Dervishes
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 35 cm, Artist’s Collection
Our Colors, Our Fraternity
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 35 cm, Islamic Calligraphy, Illumination and Miniature Painting Museum, Algeria
A Single Word
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 70 x 50 cm, Artist’s Collection
Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 30 x 25 cm, Artist’s Collection
Matrakci Nasuh
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 35 x 50 cm, Artist’s Collection
On the Trail of Piri Reis
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 35 cm, Artist’s Collection
The Piri Reis Map
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 35 x 50 cm, Artist’s Collection
Yunus Emre
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on hand-painted paper, 55 x 80 cm, Artist’s Collection
Dede Korkut
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on hand-painted paper, 35 x 50 cm, Artist’s Collection
The Seven-Headed Dragon
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on hand-painted paper, 30 x 50 cm, Artist’s Collection
A Wedding in Anatolia
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 45 x 110 cm, Artist’s Collection
Karagoz and Hacivat in Bursa
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 35 cm, Turkish Ministry of Culture, National Library Collection
The Tambourine Plays and We Dance
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on leather, 70 x 70 cm, Turkish Ministry of Culture, National Library Collection
A Ramadan in Uskudar
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 30 cm (diameter), Turkish Ministry of Culture, National Library Collection
Days of Pandemic
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 35 cm, Zeytinburnu Municipality Collection
The Vineyards of Meram
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 50 x 130 cm, Meram Municipality Collection
Following the Traces of the Seljuks
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 70 x 50 cm, Meram Municipality Collection
Double-Headed Eagle
Acrylic, watercolor & gold on hand-painted paper, 45 x 110 cm, Artist’s Collection