Yunus Emre InstituteUnder the theme Ink, Paper, and Pattern: The Timeless Beauty of Turkish Book Arts, the seven-day series of workshops invited participants to engage closely with the materials, techniques, and philosophies behind centuries of Ottoman-Turkish craftsmanship.
The programme featured a distinguished lineup of artists, conservators, and craft practitioners, each bringing deep expertise and passion to their craft. The week opened with From Parchment to Papyrus: Ancient Techniques Reimagined, led by Demet Tokbay, a conservator and designer trained in traditional parşömen (parchment) making. Tokbay, a former apprentice of the late İsmail Araç—the last recognized karatabak and parşömen master of Anatolia—guided participants through the creation of handmade sheets using natural ingredients such as aubergine, beetroot, and leek. This workshop paid homage to disappearing crafts of Türkiye and offered a hands-on encounter with forgotten methods of texture and colour.
Artist Dilara Karaağaç led the Ebru Workshop, teaching participants the fundamentals of classical Turkish marbling. Under her guidance—rooted in the master-apprentice tradition—attendees prepared dyes and thickened water, learning to create the flowing, rhythmic patterns that define this meditative art form.
Visual artist and picture book researcher Gamze Özdemir brought a contemporary edge with the Media-Collage Workshop: A Story in Layers. Drawing inspiration from Turkish storytelling and modern collage techniques, participants created layered visual narratives exploring memory, identity, and cultural symbolism.
The elegance of Ottoman manuscript ornamentation was highlighted in the Tezhip Bookmark Workshop with Nagihan Seymour. Trained in Istanbul and known for her blend of classical illumination with sacred geometry, Seymour introduced traditional motifs and painting techniques, helping attendees design bookmarks that balanced historical beauty with personal creativity.
Bookbinding took centre stage in the Miniature Bookbinding Workshop led by Ayşe Kaya, a British Library conservator trained at Istanbul’s Süleymaniye Manuscript Library. Participants crafted hand-sewn notebooks using authentic binding methods, gaining tactile insight into Turkish bookmaking traditions.
The programme concluded with the Art of Hüsn-i Hat: Islamic Calligraphy Workshop, where participants practised traditional Ottoman calligraphy under the expert guidance of Gulnaz Mahboob, trained and authorised by the late Grand Master Hasan Çelebi. Using reed pens and ink, attendees explored the measured grace and rhythmic proportions of classical scripts in a focused and contemplative setting.
Each workshop was fully booked, attracting a diverse audience of artists, designers, academics, and craft enthusiasts. Participants praised the programme for its rich historical grounding, authentic materials, and the opportunity to engage deeply with living traditions.
As it enters its eighth year at London Craft Week, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London remains a vital platform for celebrating and preserving Türkiye’s cultural heritage in the UK. Through carefully curated events like this, the Institute continues to foster meaningful intercultural dialogue and nurture appreciation for the enduring beauty of Turkish craftsmanship.