Finding My Path in Turkish Ebru Art: From International Relations to a Journey of Tradition and Spirit
In 2014, my journey with Turkey began when I received a scholarship to study international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul. At the time, I was pursuing my degree in international business in Budapest, where I eventually graduated in 2016. Those months in Istanbul left a deep mark on me — the call to prayer echoing through the city, the vibrant bazaars, the Bosphorus at sunset. I didn’t know then that those experiences would gently guide me toward a very different path than the one I had planned.
In 2017, back in Budapest, I came across an opportunity to join an ebru art course led by Turkish master Ertugrul Incel. That was the moment everything changed. The first time I watched colors bloom and swirl across the water, I felt something profound stir within me. Ebru, or Turkish marbling, was not just an art form; it was a spiritual practice rooted in patience, surrender, and harmony. From that first class, I fell in love with this ancient technique, and I knew I had found something far more meaningful than the business world I had been preparing for.
Ebru art is deeply connected to Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes love, inner peace, and connection with the divine. The meditative process of dropping pigments onto water mirrors the Sufi approach to life — trusting the flow, embracing imperfection, and finding beauty in the unexpected. Every pattern is unique, impossible to replicate, just as every human soul is one of a kind. Preserving this tradition is not only about keeping a cultural heritage alive, but also about passing on a way of seeing and experiencing the world that nurtures both creativity and spirit.
Today, I return to Istanbul every year, not only because I adore the culture, but because I continue to walk this path that ebru opened for me. What began as a scholarship in international relations has transformed into a lifelong devotion to Turkish ebru art and its traditions. Through my studio and my work, I hope to inspire others to discover the magic of this art form, and to help keep alive the heritage that has shaped me. My journey is proof that sometimes, the most unexpected detours lead us exactly where we belong.
