Shattered

Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Museum, September 20, 2023- May 7, 2024

Originally emerging as an artistic reaction to population displacements resulting from political unrest and war, Onar's creative journey has evolved to encompass a reflection on the profound impact of natural disasters. With this installation, she focuses on the recent major earthquake that affected Southeast Turkey and Northern Syria in 2023.

Building upon the success of her acclaimed project Perched, which debuted in the Aleppo Room at the Pergamon Museum, later exhibited at Victoria & Albert and the Damascus Room at Dresden State Museums, Onar now returns to the language of birds with her latest work, Shattered. By mimicking the Japanese Kintsugi technique on her birds, she explores the inherent resilience and transformative power that emerge from adversity. These birds, serving as symbols of both fragility and strength, undergo a process of repair and restoration, mirroring the healing experienced in the aftermath of natural disasters. The incorporation of gold, further emphasizes the beauty that arises from imperfections and the profound journey of transformation. 

In this thought-provoking installation, Turkish artist Feleksan Onar’s artistic lens zooms in on the tragedies behind the recent earthquakes which resulted in over 55,000 casualties. Onar’s work deals with human displacement, and her creative journey explores the profound impact that political unrest, war and natural disasters have on people.

Onar’s work will be displayed in the Damascus Room, part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Islamic Art, located in Gallery 12, which celebrates the arts of Ottoman provinces.