Our top arts events this week: NYUAD acquires Turkish photography collection and more

Plus: an exhibition in Germany about myths and monsters and how folk tales inspired art in South East Asia.

A Turkish family portrait, one of the images in the collection. Courtesy Akkasah: the Centre for Photography at NYUAD

NYUAD acquires historic Turkish photo archive

The use of photography developed rapidly in the late Ottoman period and early days of the Turkish republic. A collection of images acquired by NYUAD's Akkasah Centre for Photography shows how ordinary people embraced the power of this medium. Comprising more than 10,000 images, they are mainly amateur photographs from family albums and personal portraits; some date as far back as the early years of the 20th century. The Turkish collection also includes postcards from Beirut, Alexandria and Istanbul, and other former Ottoman cities. The centre plans to put the collection online at some point this year. Click here to view a picture gallery of the photos.

How ballads inspired art in South East Asia

Works inspired by the folk and performance art of South East Asia are the subject of an interesting exhibition in Australia. Work from India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia among others will be on display, including manuscripts, temple hangings, masks, paintings and puppets. The show takes inspiration from the Hindu epics, such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and also ballads detailing the freewheeling lives of local folk heroes. Gods, Heroes and Clowns: Performance and Narrative in South and South East Asian Art runs at the National Gallery of Victoria until October 4. For more information visit www.ngv.vic.gov.au.

Myths and monsters since the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, monsters became a ghoulish fixture in art, particularly in religious iconography, architecture and writings where they represented evil. An exhibition in Germany examines monster myths from the Middle Ages until today. About 230 works are on display, from artists such as Edvard Munch, Franz von Stuck, Max Beckmann and Albrecht Dürer, along with tapestries, film posters and videos. A particular highlight is the Codex Aureus of Echternach, an illuminated 11th century Gospel book. Monsters: Images From the Horrific to the Comic runs at the Germanisches National Museum until September 6. For more information visit www.gnm.de.