On the European shores of the Bosphorus River, the Tophane-i Amire stands as a symbol of the centuries of history that precede and inform modern- day Turkey. The former weapons factory founded by Sultan Mehmed II once again became host to something monumental – a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of leading luxury fashion and lifestyle retailer Beymen.
An exhibition dipped in Ottoman grandeur unfolded within the walls of the historic venue, holding a mirror to 500 years of the country’s luxury and cultural abundance under the theme Golden Opulence. It is more than fitting that a retailer that acted as a bridge between global luxury and Turkish savoir-faire for over half a century has merged the two in an extravagant display of contemporary splendor and multicultural heritage. Elif Çapçi, Beymen Group CEO, says, “Our country is the cradle and home of a magnificent cultural heritage that radiates all the splendor of luxury. Beymen believes it has the duty to preserve that heritage and make it relevant today and tomorrow.”
Curated by journalist and author Laurence Bénaïm, the exhibition invites visitors to explore three distinct sections, each displaying regal creations from over 50 leading purveyors of luxury. For Mineral Roundness, an homage is paid to the history of shapes and forms in Turkey. From the mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent to curved Turkish daggers and the arched profile of sofas, the region has a certain reverence for geometry that oscillates between lines and curves. Here, visitors find wondrous curiosities, such as a black evening dress featuring violin motifs first crafted for the Karl…