Byzantine Period mosaics in Istanbul: Kariye Museum

Kariye Museum (Church of Chora Monastery), Ayasofya Museum (Hagia Sophia Museum), Zeyrek Mosque (Pantocrator Monastery Church), Fenari İsa Mosque (Constantine Lips Monastery), Fethiye Museum (Pammakaristos Church), Aya İrini Mosque (Hagia Irene Church) and Great Palace Mosaic Museum are among the prominent architectural structures of Byzantine period. In this study, as examples of Byzantine mosaic art, the remarkable mosaic works these museums present are examined. Analyzing the mosaic works with respect to their historical, socio-cultural, technical and artistic aspects by applying to the history and architectural structure of the Kariye Museum constitutes the main content of the study.In the above mentioned Byzantine architectural structures, an ancient mosaic technique called Opus Vermiculatum is widely used. The art project that supports the dissertation aims at adapting this ancient technique to the present by using contemporary materials.The art project entitled ?Evren I ve Evren II? consists of two original abstract compositions that involve geometrical forms symbolizing the universe. In the design of these geometrical forms, artistic criteria of balance, rhythm, color, volume and light are considered and a graphical language is used.Both by interpreting the Byzantine mosaics, the subject of the thesis and by the mosaic technique applied in the project, the art works in past and present mosaic art are analyzed and a synthesis between past and present is achieved.