Ceramic artist Ahmet Nejat Birdevrim's "Life Experiences Reflected on the Soil" exhibition has openedits doors to art lovers at the Turkish Islamic Art Works Museum.

The artist was trained at the Ceramic Arts Department of State Applied Fine Arts Faculty from 1978 to 1979 before opening his first workshop in Kadıköy in 1985 where his works were mostly industrial. Noting that industrial art was no competition for the giant factories that dominate the industry, Birdevrim said that his interests shifted to other aspects of the arts.


After performing a pilgrimage to Mecca, Birdevrim stopped working with human figures. "While I was thinking about how to continue working on my sculptures, I decided to write the word 'Allah.' I write the word 'Allah' in hidden places in all of my works and use the words of Allah and our Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) more than the verses of the Quran. I am trying to tell the truth of Allah to those who don't understand him through my art," Birdevrim noted.

"There are many artists in my family; my aunt Cahide Keskiner is a well-knownornamentation and miniature artist. We are a family of artists. After the 1990s, I started working on my personal art," Birdevrim said.

His works were first displayed at the Culture Ministry's 52nd, 53rd and 54th Ceramics and Chinaware Exhibition, after which he began concentrating on his personal art and converted the basement floor of his workshop into an art gallery with the help of his parents to display his work.

The ceramic artist also gives lessons in the Ceramics and Glass Ceramics Department of Istanbul University's Technical Sciences Vocational High School and received the artist title in 1994.



After performing a pilgrimage to Mecca, Birdevrimstopped working with human figures. "While I was thinking about how to continue working on my sculptures, I decided to write the word 'Allah.' I write the word 'Allah' in hidden places in all of my works and use the words of Allah and our Prophet Mohammed more than the verses of the Quran. I am trying to tell the truth of God to those who don't understand him through my art," Birdevrim noted .

He has also received calligraphy lessons from Professor Hüsrev Subaşı to pursue this goal, noting that it is extremely hard work to be a calligrapher and that he cannot call himself one.

Birdevrim went on to say that he tries to express the beauty of Islam in all his works and that there is unique meaning within each and every one of his works. "While those who look at my worksee a painting, for me my art is alive. I express everything that is in my soul. I am the means for reflecting the beauty of Allah. In Turkish society, sculptures are typically thought of as human or animal figures; however, sculptures are a three-dimensional artform and, therefore, so are my works," says Birdevrim.

He used art, calligraphy and ceramics in his works and his works have been purchased by the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and former President Abdullah Gül.

The works of the artist, who had more than 40 solo and joint exhibitions in Turkey and abroad can be visited until Sept. 15.