
The works of artist Sultan Adler, who is a part of D&G Art Project, whose inverted tulip saplings are hidden in each line, will take place at Akdamar Church, an open-air museum located on Akdamar Island in Lake Van. The church, built between 915 and 921 by architect Manuel, is notable for its reliefs depicting scenes of daily life, palace life, and hunting. Constructed with red stones, the structure offers a symphony of colors amidst the greenery and also hosts a love story. According to legend, the beautiful daughter of the chief monk living on Akdamar Island, Tamara, falls in love with a shepherd who grazes his flock near the island. Every night, the shepherd swims to the island, guided by a lantern lit by Tamara. However, Tamara’s father discovers their secret and one night deceives the shepherd by carrying the lantern himself. Thinking he is reaching Tamara, the shepherd follows the light but exhausts himself and drowns in Lake Van. His last words before dying are “Ah, Tamara,” which eventually gives the island its name, Akdamar. In the works of Sultan Adler, who continues to work internationally, within the scope of the “Blue Series”, the depictions of inverted tulips viewed from above, composed with circular lines, reveal the beauty and mystery of nature with an abstract interpretation. Inverted tulip saplings sprouting in each line constitute the characteristic and depth of the blue series. Despite using an abstract language, the artist manages to blend his observations in nature with lines to give her works an element of movement. When viewed at length, these lines turn into a show of tulips about to bloom, swaying and dancing in the wind. Sultan Adler not only offers a visual richness through inverted tulips, which are considered a treasure of our culture and have a special importance as a protected species, but also reveals the hidden meanings of these flowers. She aims to capture the essence of nature in her circular canvases and each “Blue Series” work is an abstract interpretation of inverted tulips. The abstract dance of inverted tulips invites the viewer into the rhythm and mystery of nature. The inverted tulip sculptures, which are a continuation of the blue series, are a representation of the Anatolia and formally reflect the silhouette of an elegant woman. Just like the heroine of the legend, Tamara, whose beauty enchants and who gave her name to the unique location where the works will be displayed, Akdamar.