Behind the Veil. Monastic Life on Mount Athos

From 19 February to 30 April, the Arvo Pärt Centre will host an exhibition by the renowned Turkish photographer Ali Borovalı, entitled Behind the Veil. Monastic Life on Mount Athos.

Few centers, if any, possess the highly concentrated monastic environment that Mount Athos offers to monks and pilgrims. With a history dating back to the ninth century, the Holy Mountain constitutes the heart of the Christian Orthodox ascetic life. It is the only monastic center claiming a continuous, unbroken history for more than one thousand years. Today, about 2000 monks live in the monasteries, hermitages and retreats scattered on this Greek peninsula. Monks abide by the three monastic ideals, the virtues of chastity, poverty and obedience. The day is largely dedicated to prayer, while everyday tasks and duties aid the monks in their ascetic struggle. The area still holds to the centuries-old restrictions, being strictly forbidden to women and only open to male visitors holding a permit.

Photographer Ali Borovalı had the prime opportunity to visit the Holy Mount Athos in 2001. At first sight he was greatly impressed by the life the monks lead, and how this had resisted the eroding capacities of time. The challenge was to document the daily struggle in that path to purification. During repeated visits over the next seven years, he tried to maintain the closest possible look at the Athonite way of life, spending extended periods of time with the monks, taking part in their ardous daily activities and enjoying their trust. This brought up the catch of sincere moments of the often extraordinary personalities on location, a world in all its truth and depth beyond the mystical veil. The photographs, ranging from everyday scenes in various monasteries and hermitages to yearly events such as the Litany of Easter, intend to bring a fresh look at this centuries-old fascinating course of existence, while displaying how the “nature of the object” remained unchanged over time.

The spirituality, silence and tradition of the Jesus Prayer in the monasteries of Mount Athos have had a profound influence on Arvo Pärt’s work, and he has visited the Holy Mountain himself. Two of his most important spiritual teachers were monks from Mount Athos: St Silouan and St Sophrony, the patron saints of the chapel at the Arvo Pärt Centre. Their prayers have inspired several of the composer’s works.

The exhibition is made up of a personal selection of works, photographed over the years on location, by Ali Borovalı for the Arvo Pärt Centre.

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Ali Borovalı was born in Istanbul, Turkey. A graduate of Boğaziçi University Business Administration School, Istanbul, he took his masters degree in Florida, USA, where he also received his education on photography. His quest for a specialized area in photography led him to the field of photo-reportage.

Ali Borovalı engages in personal projects ranging from a few weeks to several years long, with a commitment to maintain a creative perspective on human life and its environment. His photographs encompass the rather remote cultures of less revealed geographies, with areas of interest revolving around the colours and identity of local people and indigenous life. His works are published by leading national and international publications including Atlas, National Geographic Traveler, GEO, Discovery, Image Magazine, Le Monde 2, Elle, Marie Claire. Recent exhibitions such as Ice, Mount Athos, Is There Anybody Out There?, A Road Story, and Kind of Blue, in centers including Photokina – Cologne, PhotoArt Festival (Poland), Visa Pour l’Image (Perpignan, France) and the French Institutes have brought him international recognition. His work is held in private collections and has been the recipient of numerous prizes including two times the highly prestigious Artist of the Year Award (Visual Artists Association) for his contributions in photography and a nomination for EuroFuji Award. Borovalı has published photography books under Antartist, Khalkedon, Institut Français (Turkey), Militos, Mount Athos Center and Lambrakis Press (Greece) editions.

Ali Borovalı lives and works in Istanbul.