Civilizations both ancient and modern have at least one form of art for which they are famed. The Ottoman Empire ruled throughout modern day Turkey and Iran. The Ottomans were famous for their beautiful and elaborate Arabic calligraphy and colorful and intricate tiled mosaics.
Today, contemporary artists in Turkey and throughout the world practice the art of Ebru. One of the leading figures in current Ebru art is Garip AY. Ebru roughly translates to “clouded” in Turkish, referring to the way in which the paints are whirled into a marble or stone-like creation.
There are several types of Ebru. The most commonly used method to achieve a marbled paper through Ebru is by filling a shallow tray with water. Various colors of special floating ink or paint are then added. This process is repeated until the pools of color form intricate concentric rings.
Historically, natural dyes were used as well as synthetic ones, such as linseed oil, fenugreek, guar gum, and psyllium husk. The art form was revered. Apprentices would vye to study under expert masters, who sold their works to Istanbul’s booming printing industry.
Ebru’s process and end result are both quite mesmerizing to look at. When looking at the completed work itself, it is quite difficult to grasp how many dyes were actually used to create the colorful creation before you. However, simply watching the artist at his work will reveal how often only a handful of dyes create the depth and complexity of an Ebru.