Ashraf AboArafe
The exhibition “The Turkish Textile Atlas – Memory of Textiles” was officially inaugurated at the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg, France, hosted by the Turkish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The exhibition runs until January 30, coinciding with the Assembly’s winter session.
The exhibition aims to promote Türkiye’s rich and centuries-old textile traditions on the international stage, presenting textiles as a living cultural memory of Anatolia. It features vividly colored woven works made from natural fibers and locally sourced raw materials, produced with full respect for environmental sustainability, alongside miniature weaving looms and traditional production tools that reflect generations of artisanal craftsmanship.
Organized within the framework of the “Turkish Textile Atlas” project under the patronage of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the event included a recorded message from her in which she expressed her pleasure at introducing Anatolia’s textile heritage—spanning centuries—to the international community with its historical depth and artistic richness. She emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage and supporting dialogue among societies, noting that such events help keep shared human values alive.
During the opening ceremony, Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, highlighted Türkiye’s rich cultural diversity and the distinctive beauty of its traditional motifs. Fatih Dönmez, Head of the Turkish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, stated that the exhibition aligns with Türkiye’s principles of safeguarding cultural heritage and upholding environmental responsibility.
Meanwhile, Zeynep Yıldız, Member of the Turkish Delegation to the Council of Europe and AK Party Member of Parliament for Ankara, said the exhibition represents a blend of diverse cultural interactions dating back centuries, reflecting the essence of Turkish culture in harmony with the founding principles of the Council of Europe.
The exhibition, attended by numerous parliamentarians and guests, attracted significant interest from visitors—affirming that when threads are woven with memory, they speak a universal language beyond borders.
