Inscribed in 2014 (9.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Ebru is the traditional Turkish art of creating colorful patterns by applying color pigments drop by drop or with a brush onto water to which oily substances have been added in a container, then transfer this pattern to paper.
The designs and effects employed in the art of marbled paper are, among others, flowers, foliage, ornamental motifs, tracery, mosques and moons; they are used for decoration in the traditional art of bookbinding.
Practitioners use natural methods to extract tinctures from natural pigments, which are then mixed with a few drops of ox bile, a type of natural acid, before being drip or brushed onto a preparation of thickened liquid, where they float in variegated patterns.
The knowledge and know-how of artists and practitioners of ebru, as well as the philosophy of this art, are transmitted orally and by practice within the framework of master-apprentice relationships. It takes at least two years to acquire the basic know-how of ebru. This tradition is practiced regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, and plays an important role in empowering women and improving community relations. The collective art of ebru encourages dialogue through friendly exchanges, strengthens social ties and strengthens relationships between individuals and communities.
