Sailing to Byzantium

February 28 - March 20, 2022

Pera Film presents Sailing to Byzantium, an online film program parallel to the exhibitions, From Istanbul to Byzantium and “What Byzantinism Is This in Istanbul!” at Pera Museum.

In Sailing to Byzantium, there are 4 films from different countries about the effects of the Byzantine past, which is a common heritage, continuing with its effects on art and architecture over the years, from the times of the Byzantine Empire.

In the program that will take place between 28 February - 20 March; The Human Torches of Justinian, a 1907 film by Georges Méliès, one of the pioneers of cinema, focusing on a banquet organized by Emperor Justinian; The Agony of Byzantium, which is a historical production with its extraordinary narration, set in the last period of the Byzantine Empire; Andrey Tarkovsky's film Andrey Rublev, in which he sets the atmosphere like a painting rather than telling a story in the traditional sense, and tells about the life of 15th century icon painter Andrey Rublev; and adapted from a story by Milorad Pavić, the movie Byzantine Blue turns into a love story, starting with the search for the everlasting blue paint from Byzantine church murals.

The program will be streamed at film.peramuzesi.org.tr between February 28 and March 20, and only be accessible to online audiences in Turkey. As per legal regulations, all our screenings are restricted to persons over 18 years of age, unless stated otherwise.

Justinian's Human Torches

Justinian's Human Torches

The Agony of the Byzantine

The Agony of the Byzantine

Andrei Rublev

Andrei Rublev

Byzantine Blue

Byzantine Blue

Program Trailer

Sailing to Byzantium

Pera Film presents Sailing to Byzantium, an online film program parallel to the exhibitions, From Istanbul to Byzantium and “What Byzantinism Is This in Istanbul!” at Pera Museum.

“What Byzantinism Is This in Istanbul!”

Istanbul Research Institute’s exhibition at the Pera Museum called “What Byzantinism Is This in Istanbul!”: Byzantium in Popular Culture, curated by Emir Alışık, navigates through the eclectic presence of Byzantium in popular culture. 

“What Byzantinism Is This in Istanbul!”

The Conventions of Identity

The Conventions of Identity

The exhibition “Look At Me! Portraits and Other Fictions from the ”la Caixa” Contemporary Art Collection” examined portraiture, one of the oldest artistic genres, through a significant number of works of our times. Paintings, photographs, sculptures and videos shaped a labyrinth of gazes that invite spectators to reflect themselves in the social mirror of portraits.

Sea Baths

Sea Baths

It is understood from Evliya Çelebi’s well-known Book of Travels that the history of sea baths goes as far back as the 17th century; their acceptance and popularization take place in mid-19th century as a result of Westernization, among other things.

Fragments of Identity

Fragments of Identity

The Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo was founded in 1972 as the first Academy of Fine Arts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and became one of the forerunners in Bosnian contemporary art. Academy continued its operation throughout the war years (1992-1995) in besieged Sarajevo and participated in important international art projects.