Yunus Emre InstituteOn the afternoon of 13 December, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London transformed into a space of measured creativity as it hosted “Circles, Lines, Horizons,” an intensive four-hour workshop dedicated to the timeless principles of Islamic geometric design.
Led by acclaimed artist and researcher Azîze Avcı, the session invited a diverse group of participants to move beyond mere observation and enter the world of Islamic art as a structured visual language grounded in order, balance, and continuity.
The workshop was conducted as a technical and contemplative discipline, beginning with the foundational form of the circle. Under Avcı’s expert guidance, participants learned the “how” of geometric construction, moving through proportional grids and structural systems to understand how complex patterns emerge from first principles. By focusing on measured repetition and the precise relationships between lines and horizons, the drawing process became a practice of patience and clarity. This methodical approach revealed how geometry serves as a way of organizing not just physical space, but also thought and intention.
As the afternoon progressed, the technical drawing transitioned into the application of traditional coloring techniques. Each participant worked toward completing a full pattern, experiencing the meditative rhythm that defines this intellectual tradition. By the close of the session, attendees left with more than just a finished work of art; they departed with a deeper appreciation for the spiritual and mathematical heritage that has shaped centuries of artistic thinking across the Islamic world. Through this event, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London once again highlighted the power of traditional arts to foster shared understanding and artistic devotion within a modern setting.
