New marble exhibit opens inside synagogue in Istanbul
2010-10-25
Romanian-born artist Serge Spitzer has recently chosen the Mayor Synagogue in Istanbul as the venue for his next exhibit, which consists of four tons of green and blue marbles lining the floor of the main hall of the building.
The centuries-old Mayor Synagogue was first built by Jews from Majorca as a house of worship, but since the 1960s, the synagogue has been structurally expanded and converted into manufacturing and recreational facilities, according to the New York Times.
Modern-day establishments housed inside the temple include an aluminum workshop, a rubber-molding shop, and a billiard hall.
The marble exhibit is located in the main hall of the temple, and visitors note that the marbles change color depending on the time of day and lighting conditions. The artist claims this is meant to represent the overlapping, fragmented nature of life, the news provider reports.
Guided tours by art historians are available, which consist of visiting the various rooms of the temple and the crafts shops that inhabit each, before finally reaching the main hall and enjoying the exhibit that is meant to capture the complexity of the temple's history.
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