The works of Şevket Dağ (1875-1944), one of the leading figures in the history of Ottoman and Early Republican art, will be collectively exhibited for the first time in the exhibition titled “An Artist in the Magic of Time and Space: Şevket Dağ”. This extensive exhibition, which will be held in collaboration with Humanis and Bozlu Art Project, is preparing to meet art lovers in Istanbul. Opening on September 21, 2023, the exhibition will be open to visitors at Bozlu Art Project Mongeri Building until November 25, 2023.
Born in 1875, Şevket Dağ was one of the first Turkish students at the School of Fine Arts, taking lessons from Osman Hamdi Bey, Alexandre Vallaury and Salvatore Valeri. In 1897, he graduated in first place of his class. Şevket Dağ held his first solo exhibition in a pudding shop near the Tomb of Kuyucu Murat Paşa in Istanbul, and later participated in various group exhibitions. Attending exhibitions in cities such as Athens, Munich, Sofia, Brussels, Paris and New York, he became known in international art circles. He won various awards and medals in these exhibitions. In 1909, the artist joined the Galatasaray High School as a painting teacher and became one of the founders of the Ottoman Society of Painters, which was established in the same year. He participated in various exhibitions with the 1914 Generation Artists. Known especially for his works depicting interiors, Dağ depicted places such as mosques, inns and bazaars with a realistic approach. In the last years of his life, he became interested in politics and served as an MP for Konya and Siirt,and passed away in 1944.
The works of Şevket Dağ, prominent in our art history for his detailed and unique depictions of interiors, have been exhibited in various group exhibitions after his passing, however, to date, there has never been a comprehensive exhibition featuring a large number of the artist’s works together. Having created many works focusing on the historical sites of Istanbul, this exhibition will be an opportunity for Şevket Dağ to reconnect with Istanbul, which he cherished so much. The exhibition “A Painter Enchanted by Time and Space: Şevket Dağ” brings together a total of 65 works by the artist, accompanied by various objects, archival documents and photographs.