On 19 February, the Arvo Pärt Centre opens the exhibition Behind the Veil: Monastic Life on Mount Athos by the acclaimed Turkish photographer Ali Borovalı, offering a sensitive glimpse into the secluded life of the Orthodox monastic community in Greece. The spirituality of the monasteries of Mount Athos has also left a deep mark on Arvo Pärt’s work. The exhibition will remain open until 30 April.
Photographer Ali Borovalı was first granted permission to visit Mount Athos in 2001. Today, around 2,000 monks live in the monasteries and hermitages of this secluded peninsula. Over seven years, Borovalı sought to observe the Athonite way of life as closely as possible, spending extended periods with the monks, taking part in their daily routines and earning their trust. His photographs depict both everyday scenes in monasteries and retreats and major annual events such as Easter.
The spirituality and contemplative life of the monasteries of Mount Athos have left a profound mark on Pärt’s music, and he has also visited the monasteries there himself. Two of his most important spiritual teachers, Saint Silouan and Saint Sophrony, lived as monks on Mount Athos, and their prayer texts have served as the basis for several of the composer’s works. The chapel at the Arvo Pärt Centre is dedicated to them.
“Bringing this exhibition to the Arvo Pärt Centre has been a long-held aspiration for us. We consider it important to draw attention to the spiritual foundation that has played an invaluable role in shaping Arvo Pärt’s development and his path towards the unique tintinnabuli technique,” explained Kai Kutman, curator of exhibitions at the Arvo Pärt Centre.
“The occasion is also significant, as it is the first art display to be presented in our new glass-partitioned exhibition area, which required creative solutions and suitable lighting systems. This opens up new possibilities for future exhibitions as well,” Kutman added.
Ali Borovalı has met Arvo Pärt on several occasions. Their first meeting took place in 2010 in connection with a joint project between the European Capitals of Culture Istanbul 2010 and Tallinn 2011, when Arvo Pärt was commissioned to compose his major work of recent decades, Adam’s Lament. The work premiered in Istanbul in 2010.
Ali Borovalı was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He graduated from the School of Business Administration at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul and completed a master’s degree in Florida, United States, where he also studied photography. His exploration of photography led him to photojournalism. Borovalı’s work focuses on remote cultures in lesser-known regions, with a particular interest in the identity of local communities and the lives of indigenous peoples. His photographs have been published in leading national and international publications, including Atlas, National Geographic Traveler, GEO, Discovery, Image Magazine, Le Monde 2, Elle and Marie Claire.