6th Internatıonal Workshop on Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art
The Istanbul Design Center (IDC) is organizing the 'International Workshop on Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art' to address Islamic geometric patterns, which encompass a multitude of disciplines, at an international and professional level, and to ensure that the subject is examined and brought to the forefront by experts in the field.
A first in Türkiye, the IDC organized this workshop in 2013 under the theme "Historical Process and New Experiments" and was met with widespread interest. The second workshop was held in Istanbul and Konya in 2014, the third in Istanbul and Amasya in 2016, the fourth in Istanbul and Edirne in 2018, the fifth in 2025 in Sivas.
The sixth of our “International Workshop on Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art” series will be held in Tokat, from 24 to 29 September 2026, with the support of the Tokat Governorship and in collaboration with Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, under the theme “Geometric Patterns Between East and West.”
The Opening Ceremony and presentations, to be held at Yağıbasan Madrasa on Thursday, 24 September 2026, are open to the public.
Participants for the workshop programme, which will take place in Tokat from 26 to 29 September 2026, will be selected from among those who complete the pre-registration process.
The official languages of the workshop are Turkish and English. Participants are required to have a good command of English in order to take part in workshops conducted by our English-speaking instructors.
The workshop is free of charge, and participation is limited. Following the completion of applications, all applications will be evaluated by the organising committee. Only candidates whose applications are positively evaluated will be contacted.
For participants travelling from abroad, accommodation and meals will be covered by the Centre. For participants travelling from within Türkiye, transportation, accommodation, and meals will be covered by the Centre. However, participants who do not comply with the transportation, accommodation, and meal arrangements determined by the Centre will be responsible for covering these expenses themselves.
Participants are required to attend the entire programme.
Application Deadline : 29 August, 2026
Invited Speakers and Workshop Leaders
Prof. Dr. Miroslaw Majewski (Poland) / Geometric Patterns Between East and West / Lecture 12 Petals from Tokat / Lecture
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hüsrev Subaşı (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) / Our Turkish-Islamic Art and Cultural Heritage in Tokat / Lecture
Prof. Dr. Adem Yücel (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / The Trace of Wood / Hands-on Workshop
Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Çetin (Türkiye – Necmettin Erbakan University) / Reconstruction of the Tokat Gök Medrese Pattern through Dynamic Writing Methods / Lecture
Dr. Onur Şimşek (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) / Historical Sites in Tokat / Field Trip
Dr. Emel Şener Boy (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / The Historical Development of Patterns in Tokat / Field Trip
Dr. Oğuzhan Kabalcı (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / Geometric Motifs in Turkish Carpet Art / Lecture
Assist. Prof. Richa Raut (India – University of Mumbai) / Geometry in the Sufi Tombs of Mughal India and the Ali Tusi Tomb in Tokat / Lecture and Workshop
Dr. Hasan Zahid Yurdagül (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / Instrumental Performance
Dr. Shakhboz Mustafoev (Uzbekistan – Tashkent University) / Understanding Muqarnas: From Design to Model / Lecture and Workshop
Dr. Asmaa Mazoun (Algeria) / Drawing a 10-fold Pattern Following the Hasba Method / Lecture and Workshop
Lecturer Özlem Özel Tuğal (Türkiye – Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa) / Meanings Attributed to Turkish Kilim Motifs and Stories Written on Ceramics / Lecture
Leyla Betül Küçük (Türkiye) / Tile and Mosaic Art / Lecture Drawing Patterns from Tokat’s Architectural Structures / Hands-on Workshop
Marzieh Kaviani (United Kingdom) / Family Members: Gathering / Lecture Freshly from the Earth: An Introduction to How to Make Pigments from the Earth / Workshop
Soufiana Abbadi (USA) / The traditional Qasma and Hasba Techniques for Constructing Geometric Patterns in Maghreb / Lecture and Workshop
Ar. Eman Zainab (Pakistan) / A Tale of Blue Horizons: A Study of Gök Medrese and the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam / Lecture and Workshop
Ricardo Hinojosa (Mexico) / Islamic Origami: New Ways to Ancient Techniques / Lecture and Workshop
Serdar Sabay (Türkiye) / The Art of Naht / Lecture and Workshop
Hamle Kündekari (Türkiye) / The Journey of Kündekari / Lecture and Workshop
Mehmet Küçük (Türkiye) / Geometry in Copper / Workshop Visit and Hands-on Practic
Workshop Program
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Arrival in Tokat
14:00 – 15:00 / Lunch Time
20:00 – 21:30 / Dinner and Welcome & Introduction Meeting
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Place: Yağıbasan Madrasa, Tokat
10.30 – 11.30 / Opening Ceremony
11.30 – 12.00 / Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hüsrev Subaşı (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) / Our Turkish-Islamic Art and Cultural Heritage in Tokat / Lecture
12.00 – 12.30 / Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Çetin (Türkiye – Necmettin Erbakan University) / Reconstruction of the Tokat Gök Medrese Pattern through Dynamic Writing Methods / Lecture
12.30 – 13.00 / Dr. Oğuzhan Kabalcı (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / Geometric Motifs in Turkish Carpet Art / Lecture
13.00 – 14.00 / Break Time
14.00 – 14.30 / Lecturer Özlem Özel Tuğal (Türkiye – Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa) / Meanings Attributed to Turkish Kilim Motifs and Stories Written on Ceramics / Lecture
14.30 – 15.00 / Prof. Dr. Miroslaw Majewski (Poland) / Geometric Patterns Between East and West / Lecture
Place: Gok Madrasa
16.00 – 17.30 / Exhibition Opening
17.30 – 19.00 / Dr. Onur Şimşek (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) and Dr. Emel Şener Boy (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / Historical Sites in Central Tokat / Guided Field Trip (Gök Medrese, Ali Tusi Tomb, Tokat Grand Mosque, Mahmut Paşa Mosque, Ali Paşa Mosque)
Friday, September 25, 2026
Place: Niksar Field Trip
10.00 – 10.30 / Visit to Kırkkızlar Tomb, Niksar / Guided presentation by Dr. Onur Şimşek (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) and Dr. Emel Şener Boy (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University)
11.00 – 13.00 / Visit to Niksar Grand Mosque / Guided presentation by Dr. Onur Şimşek (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) and Dr. Emel Şener Boy (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University)
13.00 – 14.00 / Break Time
14.30 – 16.30 / Visit to Yağıbasan Madrasa, Niksar / Guided presentation by Dr. Onur Şimşek (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) and Dr. Emel Şener Boy (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) Woodblock Printing Workshop / Prof. Dr. Adem Yücel (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University)
17.30 – 18.30 / Visit to Silahtar Ömer Paşa Mosque, Erbaa / Guided presentation by Dr. Onur Şimşek (Türkiye – Fatih Sultan Mehmet University) and Dr. Emel Şener Boy (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University)
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Place: Deveciler Inn
10.00 – 12.30 / Soufiana Abbadi (USA) / The traditional Qasma and Hasba Techniques for Constructing Geometric Patterns in Maghreb / Lecture and Workshop
13.00 – 14.30 / Break Time
14.30 – 15.30 / Hamle Kündekari (Türkiye) / The Journey of Kündekari / Lecture and Workshop
16.30 – 18.30 / Dr. Shakhboz Mustafoev (Uzbekistan – Tashkent University) / Understanding Muqarnas: From Design to Model / Lecture and Workshop
Place: Gok Madrasa
21.00 – 22.00 / Dr. Hasan Zahid Yurdagül (Türkiye – Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) / Instrumental Performance
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Place: Taşhan
10.00 – 12.30 / Mehmet Küçük (Türkiye) / Geometry in Copper / Workshop Visit
12.30 – 14.00 / Break Time
Place: Gülbahar Hatun Imaret
14.00 – 16.00 / Marzieh Kaviani (United Kingdom) / Freshly from the Earth: An Introduction to How to Make Pigments from the Earth / Workshop
16.30 – 18.30 / Leyla Betül Küçük (Türkiye) / Tile and Mosaic Art / Lecture Drawing Patterns from Tokat’s Architectural Structures / Workshop
Monday, September 28, 2026
Place: Sümbül Baba Zawiya
10.00 – 12.00 / Ricardo Hinojosa (Mexico) / Islamic Origami: New Ways to Ancient Techniques / Lecture and Workshop
12.00 – 13.00 / Prof. Dr. Miroslaw Majewski (Poland) / 12 Petals from Tokat / Lecture
13.00 – 14.00 / Break Time
Place: Gülbahar Hatun Imaret
14:00 – 16.00 / Dr. Asmaa Mazoun (Algeria) / Drawing a 10-fold Pattern Following the Hasba Method / Lecture and Workshop
16.30 – 18.30 / Ar. Eman Zainab (Pakistan) / A Tale of Blue Horizons: A Study of Gök Medrese and the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam / Lecture and Workshop
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Place: Deveciler Inn
10.00 – 12.00 / Serdar Sabay (Türkiye) / The Art of Naht / Lecture and Workshop
12.00 – 13.00 / Break Time
13.00 – 14.30 / Marzieh Kaviani (United Kingdom) / Family Members: Gathering / Lecture
15.00 – 17.30 / Assist. Prof. Richa Raut (India) / Geometry in the Sufi Tombs of Mughal India and the Ali Tusi Tomb in Tokat / Lecture and Workshop
18.30 – 20.00 / Closing Dinner
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Departure
