The 1492 Göke collective art exhibition of Turkish Sephardic Artists will take place at one of the most prestigious contemporary art galleries in London - the La Galleria Pall Mall - between the 2nd of July and 7th of July 2018.
The Ottoman Empire allowed thousands of Jews to settle and establish their new lives in its lands when the Spanish Monarchy forced them to leave Spain in 1492. Between 90,000 to 150,000 Jews and Muslims were carried from the Iberian Peninsula by Ottoman ships, of which "Göke" was the most renowned due to its heroic captain, Kemal Reis. For over 500 years, the Sephardic people have embraced Ottoman and Turkish culture whilst not forgetting their Spanish roots, which is manifested through Turkish Sephardic art and culture.
In this exhibition, 35 Turkish Sephardic Artists will be coming together from Istanbul to London to celebrate Sephardic history and culture. The honorary artists will be world-renowned Habib Gerez, whose paintings have exposed Sephardic culture to the world. This exhibition will include oil painting, ceramics, watercolour, artisan glass, mosaics, marble art, fabric fusion, enamel, installations, artisan jewellery, sculptures, Ottoman Jewish attire drawings, and photographs among others.
1492 Göke collective art exhibition, curated by Terry Katalan, aims to be a cultural bridge between London and Istanbul and highlight the history of the universal name “Sepharad” via art.