Photography and Writing by A. Cemal Ekin
Almost ten years ago, my exhibit opened on Providence College campus showing the photographs of Hagia Sophia. I took those photographs in 2009 after a good friend arranged a visit to the restoration site and we took the elevator to the level inside its magnificent dome. I spent hours inside and around the dome, even …
I have shown the photographs of Hagia Sophia in several exhibits since 2010, and along with that, you might have seen the photographs from Panagia Isodion church in Istanbul. If you missed the previous exhibits and would like to see these unique photographs, you have one more chance. Sacred Spaces Large and Small: Hagia Sophia …
On November 5, 2014, we hung the exhibit Sacred Spaces Large and Small: Hagia Sophia & Panagia Isodion at the Central Congregational Church in Providence. Today, November 7, 2014, we officially open the exhibit with a modest reception between 5:30 – 7:30 PM. The exhibit looks great on the walls, baklava will be served (the …
I had the privilege of having two special visits to the largest and one of the smallest churches in Istanbul. Built more than a millennium apart, the two churches allowed me to experience the truly magnificent space and works in Hagia Sophia and the jewel-like presence of Panagia Isodion. My interest in these sacred spaces …
Hagia Sophia has stood over 1,400 years as one of the significant achievements of human ingenuity, creativity, and dedication. If you had a chance to enter the Great Church, you would remember the sense of awe space emanates. The immense space is crowned by one of the largest unsupported domes in the world, and the …
My collection of photographs taken from the dome of Hagia Sophia is making the third stop. After Cleveland and Providence, they will be on exhibit at The Howard Thurman Center of Boston University between November 1 – 19, 2010. A reception with a gallery talk is scheduled for November 12, 2010, 6 – 8 pm …
If you have visited this site a few times you probably know about my experience in the dome of Hagia Sophia. I have written a few posts about it, presented photographs and videos, issued a limited edition folio, and had three photography exhibits featuring the unseen corners of the Great Church. In my continuing efforts …
Continuing with the exhibit related posts, I am sharing the video footage my friend Dennis captured during the opening reception. You will get a chance to see the event and hear a few words I said to provide context to the exhibited photographs. When I get a little free time, I may actually write a …
At the opening reception of my photography exhibit, our friend Ted Haley took many photographs. I am sharing some of them here, thanks, Ted. Thank you all for being there.
The opening reception of my exhibit, Touching The History: Photographs From The Dome Of Hagia Sophia, was well attended and highly enjoyable for me. I hope those who were there enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed sharing my experience with them. Thanks, Ted and Dennis for recording the event; will have photographs and video …
You might have read about my unique experience in the dome of Hagia Sophia and the first photography exhibit of the work of that experience in Cleveland last May-June. This fall, a slightly expanded version of the same exhibit is coming to Rhode Island. The small preview images below do not do justice to the …
The Hagia Sophia exhibit at the CSU Art Gallery opened on May 21, 2010 along with the works of three more artists. We had a chance to meet new people at the opening and we will likely keep in touch with them. A political science professor and one of his students from Hiram College traveled …
A collection of my photographs will be on exhibit in the Cleveland State University Art Gallery. The exhibit titled “Touching the History: Photographs From the Dome of Hagia Sophia” will be on display for one month opening on May 21, 2010. Opening reception and a brief talk will be on May 21, 2010, between 5 …
I have created a folio containing 12 photographs taken from the unique (and generally off-limits) vantage point of the dome of Hagia Sophia. They are printed photographically on metallic paper which brings out the reflective qualities of gold extremely well. The folio opens with a title page, includes a certificate of authenticity, and continues with …
As I mentioned in the previous post, the newly unveiled Seraphim mosaic in Hagia Sophia reminded me of a 3D head mapped to a flat surface. I am not an expert in 3D mapping, but I created the following composite showing how the face could have looked in 3D. I used FaceShop, a Photoshop plugin, …
I read in a Turkish newspaper, Aksam, that one of the mosaics in Hagia Sophia was cleaned to reveal the face of the angel Seraphim. According to the news article, the mosaic has been covered for about 160 years. Possibly because of this, the pieces of the mosaic are preserved exceptionally well. This is exciting …
Earlier, I posted a slideshow consisting of the photographs I took inside Hagia Sophia. Since then, I have created a second slideshow, this time featuring the photographs taken from the roof of Hagia Sophia. You will see the Blue Mosque, the old Hippodrome, the obelisks on one side; and Hagia Eirene and the Topkapi Palace …
I posted some of the photographs I took in, around, and from the dome of Hagia Sophia earlier. I wanted to provide an interpretation that evoked The Great Church in use; so I created a short video that is set to Byzantine Chant. I watched it a few times with great awe of the structure …
From a small trap door, they made under one of the large windows between the ribs of the great dome of Hagia Sophia we stepped out to face a magnificent view of the area. As I stepped out, I was looking at the Blue Mosque at the level of its minarets and I could see …
In the previous post, you saw photographs of me and Reha in and around Hagia Sophia. In this and the next post, I will share with you some photographs that I took from the remarkable vantage point I enjoyed of this magnificent structure. The restoration scaffolding is immense as you can see. It stands 55 …
I had a very remarkable experience that I would like to share very briefly here. My good friend Reha Gunay arranged for us to visit Hagia Sophia and go up to its dome. His student Erdinc was a great host as he took us on the elevator to the top, 55 meters from the ground. …
