Paintings

Konstantin Lips series 2022-2025, acrylic on paper works

Acrylic on paper paintings inspired by Byzantine art in Istanbul. An ancient leaf pattern on the marble cornice of the main apse of the north church of Constantine Lips Monastery (κωνσταντίνος λήψ, Monastery tou Libos, Fenari İsa Camii), which was built in the tenth century in Aksaray, Istanbul is my main inspiration. This Byzantine leaf design belongs to a larger composition on the marble cornice of north church’s main apse. The main part of the cornice comprises a central composition, with an equal-armed cross enclosed in a wreath of foliage and, flanking the wreath, two symmetrical flower stems and two facing partridges [or peacocks]. Beyond this composition which is in the middle of the frieze, the field is divided into equilateral triangles by a slight zig-zag frame, each triangle being filled with an upright leaf or a palmette (Grabar, 1963). But this cross relief enclosed by a wreath of foliage, representing the place of Jesus is in heaven, is missing today, possibly recently stolen.

This leaf relief repeats inside the building but none of the carvings are the same with the other. It seems the Byzantine sculptors did not copy a single pattern but every time created it again with Euclidean geometry. Geometric deconstruction of this pattern consists of a central circle and triangles. The central circle provides the base of the motif and then the triangles that creating the tips of the leaf were carved on the marble in an angle providing the Pythagorean equation.

"KLPS 14, 15" are acrylic on paper calligraphic works that mix the style of Byzantine funerary inscriptions and contemporary graffiti, aim to demonstrate how the Holy Book translations differs between cultures. In the verse John 14:27 (My peace I give to you), the word of 'peace' is the translation from the Hebrew greeting word Shalom (Şalom) and it means the same in Arabic as “Salam (Selam in Turkish), but in Greek translation of the word peace is 'eirene' and this is not a greeting word.

This verse is written in contemporary Greek as “εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν” (eirínin tín emín dídomi ymín). These calligraphic works are written with the capital letters of Middle Byzantine era with an inspiration of an octagonal wedding ring from the 7th century (Dumbarton Oaks Col. 47.15).

"Thrombosis" series, 2024, mixed media on paper

"Spring Symphony" series, 2025, digital paintings