Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Arts
  • Cinema
  • Music
  • Events
  • Portrait
  • Reviews
  • Performing Arts

Woodworking master keeps Ottoman, Seljuk history alive with works of art

by Anadolu Agency

ADANA, Turkey Oct 07, 2020 - 11:44 am GMT+3
Serdar Tektaş poses with his works depicting Ottoman painter Osman Hamdi Bey's "The Tortoise Trainer" and Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, Adana, southern Turkey, Oct. 6, 2020. (AA Photo)
Serdar Tektaş poses with his works depicting Ottoman painter Osman Hamdi Bey's "The Tortoise Trainer" and Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, Adana, southern Turkey, Oct. 6, 2020. (AA Photo)
by Anadolu Agency Oct 07, 2020 11:44 am
RECOMMENDED
Bülent Ersoy made her debut record in 1971. (Archive Photo)

Bülent Ersoy: Turkey’s transgender diva

PORTRAIT

Serdar Tektaş, a professional woodcarver and engraver living in the southern province of Adana, has been chipping away at his works for 30 years, mainly carving Seljuk and Ottoman motifs into wood.

Having started woodcarving at the age of 10, the master craftsman now wishes to pass his art on to future generations.

Tektaş makes wooden engravings and ornaments in his workshop at the historical Büyüksaat Bazaar in central Seyhan district, selling his works both in Turkey and abroad. Opening his workshop in the early hours of the morning and working until late at night, he can carve special patterns on wooden materials on request.

Serdar Tektaş works in his workshop in Adana, southern Turkey, Oct. 6, 2020. (AA Photo)
Serdar Tektaş works in his workshop in Adana, southern Turkey, Oct. 6, 2020. (AA Photo)

The master also offers courses to those who interested in woodcarving on a voluntary basis and makes efforts to transfer his knowledge and experience to future generations.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), Tektaş said that his pieces adorned the walls of many places across the city. “We also check on the orders we receive via social media and deliver them to customers by cargo. Even though we had hard times over the course of the pandemic, we have now resumed our community projects,” Tektaş continued.

Aiming to preserve this almost-forgotten craft, Tektaş said: “When we carve and engrave an object, we also consider its emotional aspect. Our goal here is to touch a person’s heart. What matters is to be able to raise that soul. This profession is also a form of therapy. We do not just look at what we do from a commercial aspect. We are trying to sustain the profession of our ancestors from Seljuk and Ottoman times.”

Tektaş emphasized that society should help raise artists, noting the importance of art in keeping history alive.

Serdar Tektaş poses with his works in his workshop, Adana, southern Turkey, Oct. 6, 2020. (AA Photo)
Serdar Tektaş poses with his works in his workshop, Adana, southern Turkey, Oct. 6, 2020. (AA Photo)

“I still use my former master's tools. I am trying to carry the flag I took from him. All of our works are made with physical labor. I am trying to keep history alive. I often engrave the Big Clock, Stone Bridge, Central Mosque and Varda Bridge – some of the most famous places of Adana," he said.

Explaining that some pieces involved months of work, Tektaş added that he had sold his artifacts to numerous countries, including Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy and Sweden. “I represent Turkey, which gives me distinct pride,” he told.

Underlining that he would continue to be instrumental in establishing further workshops, Tektaş said: “We may not earn a lot, but actually our wealth is vast in terms of transferring the reflections of Seljuk and Ottoman motifs to wood.”

RECOMMENDED
Bülent Ersoy made her debut record in 1971. (Archive Photo)

Bülent Ersoy: Turkey’s transgender diva

PORTRAIT
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Oct 07, 2020 12:53 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    handicrafts woodcarving engraving adana turkey
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    U.S. President Joe Biden (C) gestures as he and Hunter Biden (L) watch fireworks from the Truman Balcony of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2022. (EPA Photo)

    Hunter Biden's alleged iCloud leak exposes inappropriate content

    hunter-biden
    Mayan pyramid and ruins in the famous Tikal National Park, Guatemala. (Getty Images Photo)

    Scientists discover 417 Mayan cities in Guatemala's forested area

    mayan-city

    Seed of modern Turkish diplomacy in China: Nanjing city

    Nanjing

    Turkish Airlines becomes world's 8th-strongest airline brand

    TURKISH-AIRLINES
    No Image
    Sweating the small stuff: How Olympic athletes master their sport
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021