BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOSTED SCREENING OF DREAM, FEATURING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARCHITECT EMRE AROLAT’S SANCAKLAR MOSQUE
Derviş Zaim’s film is shown as part of the 17th Annual Boston Turkish Film Festival
Emre Arolat’s Sancaklar Mosque
NEW YORK – May 1, 2018 – On April 7th, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts hosted a screening of the Turkish Film Dream, directed by respected Turkish director, producer, and novelist Derviş Zaim, as part of the 17th Annual Boston Turkish Film Festival. The screening was held at the museum’s Harry and Mildred Remis Auditorium, and is the first time the film has been screened in the United States.
Dream, originally released in Turkey in 2016, follows architect Sine, who, dissatisfied with the current architectural landscape, designs an unconventional mosque inspired by the religious Seven Sleepers myth. The innovative Sancaklar Mosque, designed by internationally renowned architect Emre Arolat of EAA – Emre Arolat Architecture, was the mosque seen in the film.
“Sancaklar Mosque strips away design conventions and returns to the heart of Islamic philosophy. With an original design focused on the essence of a place of worship as opposed to the aspects of a typical mosque,” said Arolat. “I wanted to ensure that physical and emotional pleasure were at the forefront, and not form. The mosque represents the purest forms of light and matter, to provide a space for worshipers to observe and be free from all outside burdens.”
Sancaklar Mosque is located in a prairie landscape. The only visible elements of the mosque are the courtyard surrounded by horizontal walls and a vertical mass of stone serving as the mosque’s minaret. The prayer hall reached down the cascading steps is a simple cave-like space meant to be an inspiring place for worshipers to be alone with God as they pray. Additionally, the complex features a tea house, communal space, and library, encouraging social gatherings amongst visitors.