The Art of Marbling and Secret of Water

Live from Istanbul, Turkey

Ebru Painting, also known as Turkish Marbling, is a mystical art form which dates back to the 16th century Ottoman tradition of book art. Mineral/herbal paint is applied to the surface of water to create a design that gets mono-printed onto paper. While the mastery of various tools & techniques helps create the painting, it is water as an element that ultimately shapes the paint according to its own laws. 

On Sunday September 26th at 11AM EDT, join Istanbul based VAWAA Artist and master marbler Silvia for a talk and live demonstration of marbling and the secret of water. Having studied Ottoman culture, the philosophy of Islam, Sufism and the cultural significance of water in Istanbul for nearly 25 years, Silvia uses classic Ebru techniques to produce contemporary art. She is also an expert on the ruins of the historical water ways in Istanbul.

We'll start with an introduction to the art of marbling -- from the materials and ways of practicing to its background, symbolic meanings in Sufism, and philosophy of Islam. Then, Silvia will demonstrate the steps of creating paintings influenced by the element water. Prepare to dive into mystics, secrets of water, and its meaning for humanity. 

If you are not in EDT time zone, be sure to convert the time.

How to join

We'll be hosting this VAWAA Online on Zoom. We'll send the link and details to join via email 1 day and again 1 hour before it begins.

About Silvia

Silvia is an artist and academic who practices Ebru Painting, or Turkish Marbling - an art form which dates back to the 16th century Ottoman tradition of book art. In this technique, mineral/herbal paint is applied to the surface of water to create a design that is then mono-printed onto paper. Silvia has studied Ottoman culture, the philosophy of Islam, Sufism and the cultural significance of water in Istanbul for nearly 25 years. She is also an expert on the ruins of the historical water ways in Istanbul. This context inspires Silvia’s practice, where she uses classic Ebru techniques to produce contemporary art from her home studio in Istanbul’s tranquil Cengelköy District. 

Visit her artist page to learn more about her in-person VAWAA.

Reviews

"We really appreciated the breadth of Ebru knowledge Silvia shared with us." - Aditya

"The art of paper marbling is meditative and very satisfying. Silvia is extremely generous with her time and in the sharing of her passion." - Nelly

"My experience during my VAWAA with Silvia was indescribable. She has such an amazing presence in everything she does." - Natalie

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