Sufi exhibition launches near Washington

An exhibition of a vast collection of antique objects used in Sufi dervish lodges began on Monday evening at the Turkish American Cultural Center in the state of Maryland, near Washington.

The "Dervishes and Their Belongings" exhibition, which will last until Oct. 21, will feature 300 historical artifacts used in the daily life of Sufi lodges.

Dervishes, often known as Whirling Dervishes, are members who follow Sufi traditions, which date back to the 13th century and take their roots from mystic Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Sufism in modern Turkey is highly influenced by Turkish customs and culture.

Hosted by the non-profit The New East Foundation (NEF) the exhibit introduces 100-year-old calligraphy, talismans, wands and traditional musical instruments in an exhibition room designed as a dervish lodge. "There is a center, a modernized version of where invocations and circulation is done. You go around [the center] after you see the dervishes' belongings and end up at the contemporary part of the exhibition, which is designed to show the continuation [of life]," NEF President told Anadolu Agency (AA).

Seven contemporary works of art by Turkish painter Fatma Zeynep Çilek are also part of the exhibition.

Çilek told AA that her contemporary pieces were inspired by "lodge drawing models," and aim to bridge the modern and mystical world of dervishes. "I'm inspired by the letters written on dervish belongings and try to reflect the deep meanings of these letters in my painting in an abstract way," Çilek said. "The Arabic letters and Ottoman motifs are very aesthetic and have deep philosophical meanings."

Alongside several American artists, Turkish diplomats, members of the business community and several other art lovers attended the launch of the exhibition.