For 28 years, ceramic artist Zübeyir Ayhan has blended traditional Turkish art with motifs from cultures around the world, turning his handmade pieces into works that travel far beyond Cappadocia.
Ayhan developed an interest in fine arts while still in middle school and, on a friend’s recommendation, enrolled in a ceramics course organized by the Public Education Center in Avanos, a district of Nevşehir in central Türkiye, in 1998.
After completing the course, Ayhan devoted himself to the art and continued to develop his craft over the following 28 years.
At an art workshop in the district, Ayhan draws and paints his handmade ceramic pieces, which reach people around the world through tourists visiting Cappadocia.
Ayhan told Anadolu Agency (AA) that he enjoys living a life surrounded by the art he became interested in at a young age.
Recalling his interest in fine arts as a student, Ayhan said: “On a friend’s recommendation, I took a three-month course. Since there is no end to this art, I would still call myself an apprentice. You never fully become a master. I try to practice all traditional arts as much as I can.”
Ayhan said he creates works that bring traditional motifs together through different interpretations and incorporates the cultures of various countries into his pieces like combining Seljuk tile art with Chinese and Indian art.
Ayhan said he mostly works in the Iznik and Seljuk styles, combining them with elements of mandala and painting. He also creates pieces based on customers’ requests, with the time needed to complete each work ranging from a day to a week depending on its design and size.
Once a piece is completed, it goes through glazing and firing, a process that can take three to four days. Ayhan said the kiln can sometimes bring unexpected challenges, including pieces breaking or glaze running, making the work highly detailed and demanding. “For me, this is both a profession and a hobby – the two go hand in hand,” he said, adding that the craft requires patience and genuine passion. “The more people like and buy your work, the more you fall in love with the profession.”
Emphasizing how much he loves his profession, Ayhan said:
“As I kept creating, seeing people appreciate my work and selling my pieces, I became interested in exploring different styles. For example, the Chinese have their own art, while Indians have the art of mandala. There are also the styles of other masters. I try to learn all of them and compare them visually with tile art. That gives me a great deal of pleasure. I’m proud of it, and I’m glad I learned this craft.”
Ayhan said he previously trained students at courses organized by the Nevşehir Municipality, adding that only a few people remain in the profession due to a lack of interest in the art.
Ayhan added that his door is always open to young people who want to learn and that he is ready to provide all the support he can to help ensure the art is recognized and practiced by younger generations.
