Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Koç Group continues to bring different disciplines of art to wider audiences through the cultural institutions operating under the Vehbi Koç Foundation and the initiatives of Group companies in this field. Koç Holding is taking its long-standing contributions to culture and the arts onto the international stage by supporting an exhibition focusing on Istanbul’s cultural richness at Victoria and Albert South Kensington, one of the world’s leading museum institutions, which sheds light on 5,000 years of human creativity.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is hosting the exhibition “From Constantinople to Istanbul: A City, Two Empires,”organised in collaboration with Koç Holding. Opening to visitors on 7 November in London, the exhibition explores how artistic production evolved in Istanbul over a 1,600-year period, during which the city served as the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. In addition to Koç Holding’s contribution, museums and institutions affiliated with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Directorate of National Palaces have also loaned works to the exhibition under the coordination of the Ministry. The exhibition will run until 9 May 2027.
The exhibition’s opening was attended by Koç Holding Chairman of the Board Ömer Koç, Koç Holding Vice Chairman of the Board Ali Y. Koç, Koç Holding Board Members Caroline N. Koç and İpek Kıraç, Çiğdem Simavi, Kerim R. Koç, Esra Koç, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu, and Sadberk Hanım Museum Director Hülyâ Bilgi.
Covering the period from 330 AD to 1922, the exhibition is organised into four main sections. It brings together more than 200 works spanning a wide range of artistic disciplines and materials, from fine silk textiles, tiles and ceramics to mosaics, precious metals and gem-encrusted objects, sculptures, architectural decorative elements, manuscripts and paintings.
Highlights of the exhibition include the celebrated portrait of Sultan Mehmed II, painted in 1479 by the Venetian artist Gentile Bellini and loaned by the National Gallery in London, as well as a shimmering 16th-century kaftan made of gold-woven zerbaft fabric, belonging to Sultan Selim II and drawn from the Topkapı Palace Collection. Striking sixth-century mosaics, the only surviving examples of the original decoration of the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors, will also be displayed outside Istanbul for the first time since their discovery during archaeological excavations in 1935.
Nineteenth-century Ottoman women's garments and distinguished examples of calligraphy from the Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection, together with Osman Hamdi Bey’s painting Women on a Promenade from the Yapı Kredi Collection, will also feature in the exhibition.
Ömer Koç: “The Exhibition Brings Together Outstanding Works of Art that Reflect Istanbul’s Unique Timelessness”
In his foreword to the exhibition catalogue, Koç Holding Chairman of the Board Ömer Koç noted that Istanbul possesses a timeless quality that sets it apart from other cities around the world. Emphasising that the city’s unique geographical position has endowed it with an inexhaustible vitality, Ömer Koç stated that Istanbul has been a centre of trade, art and craftsmanship throughout the ages.
Noting that the Ottomans created an extraordinary synthesis by combining their own rich cultural traditions with the Byzantine heritage, Koç said:
“For centuries, works of art produced here and now preserved and exhibited in museums and collections around the world have borne witness to the universal nature and enduring influence of Istanbul’s cultural heritage. Together, these works tell a story of resilience, renewal and cultural vitality. It is a journey stretching from Constantinople to the Istanbul of modern-day Türkiye. We are therefore deeply proud and honoured to support the Victoria and Albert Museum’s exhibition, ‘From Constantinople to Istanbul: A City, Two Empires’. The exhibition brings together outstanding works of art that reflect Istanbul’s unique timelessness.”
Tim Stanley: “It Has Been an Exciting Adventure”
Tim Stanley, curator of the exhibition, commented:
“Putting this exhibition together has been an exciting adventure, bringing together the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Their capitals, first known as Constantinople and later as Istanbul, have been among the most important cities in the world, both in the past and today. The artistic ideas that emerged throughout the distinctive dual history of these two empires in their imperial capital continue to play an important role around the world. By bringing together the stories and magnificent works of art of these two empires, we have taken the journeys of Constantinople and Istanbul out of their respective worlds and brought them together on a shared stage.”
Works from Koç Group Collections Featured in the Exhibition
- Calligraphic Panel Depicting a Mevlevi Dervish Headgear at the Station of Pir, Ottoman, 19th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Three-Skirted Robe (Üçetek Entari), Ottoman, late 19th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Skirt and Blouse, Ottoman, early 20th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Ferace (Outer Robe), Ottoman, Cairo or Istanbul, early 20th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Street Veil (Sokak Çarşafı), Ottoman, Sivas, last quarter of the 19th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Umbrella, England, early 20th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Overshoes and Boots, Ottoman, late 19th century. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Calligraphic Panel, Calligrapher Sâmi Efendi, Ottoman, 1866/1867. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Calligraphic Panel, Calligrapher Hüsnî Efendi, Ottoman, 1904/1905. Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection
- Women on a Promenade, Osman Hamdi Bey, Ottoman, Istanbul, 1887. Yapı Kredi Collection
About Koç Holding
Founded in 1926, Koç Group operates across the energy, automotive, durable consumer goods and finance sectors, with companies that enjoy strong competitive advantages and leading market positions. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries, Koç Group is Türkiye’s largest corporate group in terms of combined revenues, exports, employment, total market capitalisation and its share of Borsa İstanbul. The Group accounts for approximately 7% of Türkiye’s national income and 8% of its exports. Koç Holding is the only Turkish company included in the Fortune Global 500 ranking.
Throughout its 100-year journey, Koç Group has been a driving force in Türkiye’s economy, with sustainable value creation at the heart of its business model.
About V&A South Kensington
The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity. Through its exhibitions, experiences and educational programmes, V&A South Kensington brings together examples of creativity from around the world, making them accessible to everyone.
One of London’s most iconic landmarks, the museum houses national collections spanning art, design, fashion, photography, furniture, theatre, performance arts, architecture and ceramics, as well as the UK’s National Art Library.
Visitors can experience a story of creativity spanning 5,000 years and encompassing every creative discipline. The museum brings this story to life through programmes and events for people of all ages and levels of expertise, alongside world-leading research and conservation initiatives.
