Mardjani Foundation
The exhibition of Turkish Karagöz puppets introduces the traditional shadow theatre of Turkey. In the year 1517, an unidentified puppeteer in Cairo presented a performance for Selim I, the Ottoman sultan who conquered Egypt. He presented the story of Tuman Bay, the last Mamluk ruler of Egypt, in a highly realistic manner. According to numerous historians, this performance marked the beginning of a new artistic form – the Karagöz shadow theatre.
Clearly, Karagöz was not just a phenomenon of the 16th century; it enjoyed significant popularity in the Ottoman Empire's territories. The diverse population of cities, which spoke various languages and carried different cultures, religions, and traditions, provided a rich source of inspiration for Karagöz's performers.
The traditional Karagöz puppets, measuring approximately 18–20 centimetres, are crafted from animal skin and painted in vibrant colours. They are varnished to enhance their durability. Using long, thin sticks, the puppeteers press them tightly against the surface of the illuminated screen. The plays of Karagöz feature puppets that represent different nationalities living in Turkey, such as Greeks, Jews, Lazs, Arabs, Armenians and Europeans. There are also figures of children, animals (such as donkeys and dogs), monsters and objects necessary for the course of the play, such as ships, boats, houses and coffee shops. The texts of these plays were originally handwritten. Because performances were often held during the nights of Ramadan, approximately 30 plays were produced for each night of Ramadan at the beginning of the 20th century. Many of them were later printed.
The exhibition presents the history of the Karagöz Theater, based on the collections of the State Museum of Oriental Art and the S. Obraztsov State Academical Puppet Theatre, as well as its contemporary interpretation, presented by the Turkish puppeteer Cengiz Samsun. Visitors will be able to see approximately 100 puppets created by the master for his theatrical performances. The exhibition will also feature views of Ottoman cities, presented through printed shamails provided by the Mardjani Foundation. The exhibition will be accompanied by performances by the Karagöz Theatre, presented by Cengiz Samsun himself.
Clearly, Karagöz was not just a phenomenon of the 16th century; it enjoyed significant popularity in the Ottoman Empire's territories. The diverse population of cities, which spoke various languages and carried different cultures, religions, and traditions, provided a rich source of inspiration for Karagöz's performers.
The traditional Karagöz puppets, measuring approximately 18–20 centimetres, are crafted from animal skin and painted in vibrant colours. They are varnished to enhance their durability. Using long, thin sticks, the puppeteers press them tightly against the surface of the illuminated screen. The plays of Karagöz feature puppets that represent different nationalities living in Turkey, such as Greeks, Jews, Lazs, Arabs, Armenians and Europeans. There are also figures of children, animals (such as donkeys and dogs), monsters and objects necessary for the course of the play, such as ships, boats, houses and coffee shops. The texts of these plays were originally handwritten. Because performances were often held during the nights of Ramadan, approximately 30 plays were produced for each night of Ramadan at the beginning of the 20th century. Many of them were later printed.
The exhibition presents the history of the Karagöz Theater, based on the collections of the State Museum of Oriental Art and the S. Obraztsov State Academical Puppet Theatre, as well as its contemporary interpretation, presented by the Turkish puppeteer Cengiz Samsun. Visitors will be able to see approximately 100 puppets created by the master for his theatrical performances. The exhibition will also feature views of Ottoman cities, presented through printed shamails provided by the Mardjani Foundation. The exhibition will be accompanied by performances by the Karagöz Theatre, presented by Cengiz Samsun himself.
Organizers and participants
The State Museum of Oriental Art , The Puppet Theater named after S.V. Obraztsov / The Museum of the Puppet Theater named after S.V. Obraztsov, The Mardjani Foundation, The Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Photos
