Kim Mihri I Talk & Film Screening

Would you like to explore the story of painter Mihri, filled with gaps and legends?

Mihri Rasim Müşfik Açba was one of the first female painters of the Ottoman Empire and studied in Europe to become a portrait artist. Founded in 1914, the School of Fine Arts for Girls (İnas Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi) was the first higher education institution for women in the arts in the Ottoman Empire. Mihri played a pioneering role in its establishment. At a time when women were not yet admitted to art academies in much of Europe, she became both the school’s first female director and instructor.

Mihri’s story, which began in late 19th-century Ottoman Istanbul and extended to Rome, Paris, and New York, caught the attention of writer Berna Gençalp, who focuses on female characters. She set out with the question: “Who is Mihri?”

By watching the documentary Kim Mihri, we witness the extraordinary life of painter Mihri. Following the screening, a talk will be held with the film’s writer and director Berna Gençalp and art historian Burcu Pelvanoğlu, discussing the filmmaking process and Mihri’s contributions to the art world.

Number of participants in the event: 35 people.