The exhibition runs through the summer, in the run-up to the 17th International Congress of Turkish Art (ICTA) which will be hosted by the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów and the University of Warsaw from September 18 to 21, 2023.
Over 25,000 decorative plants have been planted in various areas of the park, and displayed around the Wilanów Palace to evoke an Oriental atmosphere. The exhibition aims to remind visitors of the history of Ottoman Empire's plants and their significance in the gardens of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Kamila Domańska, the head of Wilanów's gardening department, said: "The flowers are in full bloom, displaying great beauty and unique colors. Despite the drought, the garden is full of lush greenery and colorful flowery carpets. The dominant colors in the gardens are red and navy blue. There's also gold and white, which are Turkish colors. The compositions and colors of the flowers in shades of yellow, red, and blue are inspired by Ottoman works of art."
The Ottomans' love for flowers was so widespread that they were referred to as a nation of gardeners and through deep political and trade contacts with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth many species of ornamental and Mediterranean plants came into our region. "Although the memory of their origins has faded, these plants are still among the most commonly cultivated exotic species," emphasized Domańska and Jacek Kuśmierski, a researcher and expert on historical gardens.
The Rose Garden features tall white lilies and multicolored roses, which carry symbolism associated with passionate love in Turkish culture. Since in Islamic art representations of the human form were generally avoided, artists found other means of expression. "The rose motif was frequently used for decorative purposes in Turkish art. Representations of roses can be found in the 1645 Quran, housed in the museum's collection." added Domańska and Kuśmierski.
The flower arrangements in the Northern Garden, consisting of dahlias and red begonias, along with blue sage, are reminiscent of traditional pottery from İznik. "They are widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements of Ottoman ceramic art. Artists painted geometric patterns, plant motifs, as well as birds and other animals on them. One such piece in the Wilanów collection is a plate from the early 17th century, featuring a fanciful representation of a rose, a tulip, and a saz leaf. Yellow velvet flowers, resembling delicate gilded ornaments, add an oriental splendor," pointed out Domańska.
The exhibition is held under the patronage of the European Route of Historic Gardens. https://www.europeanhistoricgardens.eu/en
(rt/pm)
Source: PAP