Saturday, March 14, 2009

Turkish Rahle

I am going with rahle of Turkish tradition. This is the stand for reading Koran. All are made of a single board, sawed from top and bottom, drilled, chiseled, and notched into hinges, then split open so they fold in for portability, out for reading.
-----"There is meaning in the technology. A units divides into parts that are linked finally into oneness. The mystery in the technique that brings complexity out of unity, unity out of complexity, makes the rahle fit to Islam."-----Henry Glassie
The form is really simple. Two pieces integrate in the middle. I see this objects representing the complex Turkish history really well. The action following this objects, reading Koran, its sacredness, is also really attractive to me.

I am also interested in ebru, Turkish marbled paper. It was used extensively in the binding of books and writing the calligraphic panels in Turkey. The existing word ebre means variegated. Its origin might hark back to China during Tang dynasty (618-907). I feel its colorful and mingled appearance describe well about the mixed culture of Turkey.

In Turkey, all women, from the queen to the rural woman, whatever their income or cultural level, have always enjoyed wearing bracelets. But, bracelets have had other functions. For example, copper bracelets are still believed to relive pains in the joints, and in former times bracelets containing agate, a stone regarded as sacred amongst the Turks were believed to protect the wearer against bites by venomous animals.

I will combine these elements to make a piece of ornament.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Yoshi,

    This is a very beautiful object and has amny layers of rich meaning for you to work with. Turkey is a very interesting place too- with the mix of two culture as you mentioned. I look forward to your models!

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  2. Hi Yoshi,

    I am here to remind you to stick with the Rahle--Dont loose your focus! Looking forward to some deep research next week....

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  3. Hi Rebecca,
    Thank you for your advise.
    I will stick with the rahle and consider about the way of interlocking.

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