Bazaar in Anatolia 

Huseyin Avni Lifij captured this Anatolian bazaar with strokes of oil paint. The scene hums with life under the relentless sun, but it’s the architectural elements that truly sing to me. Observe the minaret rising in the distance, a slender beacon. It’s a visual echo of the ancient obelisks of Egypt, symbols of power and connection to the divine. The minaret serves as a bridge between earth and the heavens, a constant reminder of faith permeating daily life, and an emotional connection to the timeless and the sacred. Consider the way the archways frame the movement, how these architectural motifs draw the eye and guide us through the painting's world. The same principle that is seen in triumphal arches of ancient Rome which symbolize victory and imperial power. The image carries with it a complex and contradictory sense of historical and cultural memory. It's a reminder that symbols are never static.