Kum Kapi at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

May 12, 2016

‘Kum Kapi’, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

For ‘Kum Kapi’, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon is drawing on little known items from its collection to display a handful of very fine Istanbul workshop rugs. Calouste Gulbenkian travelled widely and amassed over 6,400 objects of art, among them many excellent textiles. The exhibition connects two artists from different times and places who share a common past that ties in with the life story of Gulbenkian himself. Three of the carpets in the exhibition are by Hagop Kapoudjian (c. 1870-1946), one of the most famous Kum Kapi master carpet makers. These works are placed in dialogue with pieces by the contemporary artist Mekhitar Garabedian, who is also of Armenian origin.

On 29 June Dickran Kouymjian will give a lecture related to the exhibition titled ‘Armenians and Rug Weaving: A Passion of Three Millennia’.

Kum Kapi, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, until 18 September 2016