Voiceover this is bbc news. We will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. As an art critic and ajournalist, ifeel like a very lucky man indeed, because i get to spend tonnes of time inside museums, places ive loved ever since i was a boy. And during my working life, ive witnessed something astonishing how radically theyve changed. The days of museums as grand, intimidating treasuries for dusty objects are long gone. Theyre becoming much more dynamic and inclusive places less solemn, less elitist, and less west centric too. Museums, i believe, are really having a moment, and thats what i want to explore. This is amazing. So this is his studio. I can walk around, can i . He was painting the orient within the orient. When you see my work, you can easily link the concepts, lets say, or the technique, anything from them, as inspiring. I think thats rather wonderful. Im in istanbul, that great, entrancing, ancient megalopolis, once the cap
[highpitched rewind whine] [projector humming] i grew up as a bigheaded baby in seattle, moved to nicaragua when i was three, made friends with parrots and sloths. Moved back to Washington State when i was five, learned to play the bassoon. Moved to illinois and joined the drama club, and eventually, i landed in los angeles as dunder mifflins assistant to the regional manager. Please welcome rainn wilson. Rainn wilson. Yet for all my success, my wife and son, whom i love, a nice house, people tattooing my face on their feet. [beeping, whirring] [sighs] youd think id be happier. [upbeat music] but like so many others, i struggle. To find fulfillment. Amy. To find true joy. I need to be honest with you all. Its just ive been going through a really hard time recently on a number of different levels, and ive been feeling a little bit low, a little bit less than, a little depressed and humbled and lost these days. And so ive churned through countless therapists and selfhelp books. Ive tried
of cultural exchange between east and west. i m starting at the pera museum, once an exclusive hotel in the heart of istanbul s diplomatic district. i can t think of anywhere else quite like it, a unique, privately run museum, with a collection exploring the relationship between east and west a centuries long exchange that culminated in a controversial art movement known as orientalism. i m here, though, to find out how people in turkey feel about orientalism today. for art historians, orientalism is quite a specific concept that draws upon the argument of this very famous book published in 1978 by the intellectual edward said. and it refers to a period, principally during the 19th century, when western artists relished depicting subjects from the near east, including turkey. to make their compositions convincing, these artists, who sometimes didn t even travel outside europe, stuffed them full of supposedly authentic details. yet often, they ended up painting these opulent
Museums, i believe, are really having a moment, and thats what i want to explore. This is amazing. So this is his studio. I can walk around, can i . He was painting the orient within the orient. When you see my work, you can easily link the concepts, lets say, or the technique, anything from them, as inspiring. I think thats rather wonderful. Im in istanbul, that great, entrancing, ancient megalopolis, once the capital of the byzantine and ottoman empires. Lying on either side of the bosporus strait, its a city that straddles two continents, europe and asia, so it feels like the Perfect Place to discover for myself the long, still evolving story of Cultural Exchange between east and west. Im starting at the pera museum, once an exclusive hotel in the heart of istanbuls diplomatic district. I cant think of anywhere else quite like it, a unique, privately run museum, with a collection exploring the relationship between east and west a centuries long exchange that culminated in a controve
museums, i believe, are really having a moment, and that s what i want to explore. this is amazing. so this is his studio. i can walk around, can i? he was painting the orient within the orient. when you see my work, you can easily link the concepts, let s say, or the technique, anything from them, as inspiring. i think that s rather wonderful. i m in istanbul, that great, entrancing, ancient megalopolis, once the capital of the byzantine and ottoman empires. lying on either side of the bosporus strait, it s a city that straddles two continents, europe and asia, so it feels like the perfect place to discover for myself the long, still evolving story of cultural exchange between east and west. i m starting at the pera museum, once an exclusive hotel in the heart of istanbul s diplomatic district. i can t think of anywhere else quite like it, a unique, privately run museum, with a collection exploring the relationship between east and west a centuries long exchange that culmi