Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

50th anniversary performances by the African-American dance group

Project dates: September 2008 

In collaboration with the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and HSBC Private Bank, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, celebrated its 50th anniversary with three performances in Istanbul in September 2008.



Since being founded in 1958, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre has grown to become one of the world's best known contemporary dance groups. Under the guidance of artistic director Judith Jamison, the group returned to Turkey for the first time in 31 years.

The Béjart Ballet's Rumi

A special performance by the The Béjart Ballet to mark Rumi's 800th birthday

Project dates: June 2007

In collaboration with the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, choreographer Maurice Béjart and his ensemble, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, performed a special event as part of the 2007 World Mevlana Year in Istanbul.



The Béjart Ballet Lausanne revised a part in their existing performance, Rumi, in celebration of the Mevlana Cellaleddin Rumi's 800th birthday, and Maurice Bejart's 80th birthday.



The performances took place on 14th - 17th of June 2007 for HSBC Private Bank in Istanbul.

The shows included performances from the composer Erguner and designer and director Robert Wilson.

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Arts IKSV

Seeing is Feeling

This photography competition recognises and supports young Turkish artists under the age of 35

Project dates: 2008

In collaboration with Fotografevi, HSBC Turkey organised Seeing is Feeling to help emerging photographers in Turkey. From the ten finalists, one overall winner was chosen.

The top ten portfolios were exhibited at the Fotografevi Gallery, Istanbul throughout October 2008.

Soner Yaman, an archaeologist, won the 2008 competition with his study of foundry workers. Images from his portfolio, entitled Swamp, can be seen below.

The Search for Beauty in Diverse Cultures

HSBC Turkey is sponsoring this exhibition that tells the story of the peoples who have lived in Anatolia over the past 10,000 years

Project dates: 16th May–17th August 2008

The Search for Beauty in Diverse Cultures is the summer exhibition at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul. It aims to help today's Turkish society and visitors, understand more about the diverse cultural history in Turkey. By gaining an insight into the way of life of the anterior cultures - their homes, belongings, drawings and paintings - visitors to the exhibition are able to learn more about the richness that 10,000 years of history has bequeathed to the area.

In the exhibition, there are drawings tapestries, domestic objects, jewellery, andsculpture which range from 500 to 5000 years old.

By partnering with the museum to present this exhibition, HSBC Turkey is helping to keep alive some of the history of the civilizations that have existed in the area over the past ten thousand years - a rich melting pot of east meets west - and to bring Islamic arts to a wider audience.

Below are two examples of artefacts featured in the exhibition

Jewellery Box - Ottoman, (1520-1530)

This Ottoman jewellery box is made of dark green jade. Its lid and body is decorated with gold flowers and there are rubies and turquoises in the centre of each of them. Its legs are made from gilt gold and silver and are each crafted in the shape of a dragon.

Necklace - Archaic Period (7.-6. centuries B.C.E.)

Most of the opaque beads of this ancient necklace are triangular prisms. Due to the distinctive patterns they are known as ‘spiralled eye beads'. The necklace is believed to be used to ward off evil and is a symbol of abundance.

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The Search For Beauty Exhibition