Meet Tüzin Tiryaki | Marbling Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tüzin Tiryaki and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tüzin, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started the art of marbling in 1994 with the idea of having a hobby. When I realized that every time I sat on the tray, I experienced a different feeling that would make me forget the time, the place and the whole world, I decided to live my whole life by working only on marbling. I have served in the healthcare industry for many years. I wanted to experience the indescribable happiness that art gave me every day of my life. Having the flowers I see in my head come to life on my tray and displayed in thousands of homes is a career that very few people experience. When I design a new flower, draw it in water and meet it, it takes my breath away. I get excited, feeling like the flower on my tray will wither if I breathe at that moment. After I take the flower to the paper from water, watching it makes me experience an indescribable happiness.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started teaching as a professional educator in 1999. The portfolio of students who applied to me for the course were people who finished their school life, started professional life, and have careers. To each of my students, I started to ask; “Why marbling?” From the answers I got, I learned that the students are people who get tired of life and they just want to do something for themselves and feel good for a few hours a week. After I started the lesson, I observed that their tiredness was over and they gained energy and recovered. I started to observe that marbling actually has healing power as therapy while drawing flowers. When I started marbling in 1994, only six flowers were made in marbling. In particular, the dutchman’s breeches was worked in bouquets. This was my first surprise, because the dutchman’s breeches is an individual flower, not bouquet. “The dutchman’s breeches is not suitable for the bouquet character, why are you working like this?” When I asked my teacher, I got a sarcastic answer, “Then you do it”. With my first solo exhibition in 2001, I stylized fifteen new flowers and brought them into the art of marbling. And of course, I worked and exhibited the dutchman’s breeches in accordance with its character. In an established art, new flowers were a big risk. I was able to take that risk and successfully break down all those walls. I have served in the healthcare industry for many years. I wanted to experience the indescribable happiness that art gave me every day of my life. Having the flowers I see in my head come to life on my tray and displayed in thousands of homes is a career that very few people experience. I have had students that I met from many parts of the world and studied marbling. The flowers that I drew on the water with my hands are in the houses that I will never be able to see in my life, and they are witnessing those lives. We establish a bond of love with each new student and we become a big family. This makes me feel very loved and respected. They call my flowers Tüzin Tiryaki flowers. This is my definition of success. The most important thing in art is unconditionality. You may work very long hours physically and mentally and do nothing that day, week, month, or earn no money. Artworker with expectation is always disappointed. Profit and loss calculation is very important in business life. Artists like us, who work by making art, will one day either see the top or the bottom. For this reason, if making money is a priority in their lives, they will never reach their dreams in the short term. Working hours are difficult and long. It is very difficult to establish the balance in the atelier. It is not possible to earn money, produce and live social life together and equally.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First of all, I would like to show my guests who come to my city to places related to art and culture. Istanbul is a very historical city, it contains the history of different cultures. I would start our trip with museums, including the Archeology Museum and the Museum of Islamic Arts. Sultanahmet is also a very rich region in terms of culture, art and history.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family. My husband is an art historian, academic. Without the support of my daughter, my husband, and my parents, I could not work long hours. If they had not shared my responsibilities with me so that I could work more in my atelier, I would not have reached today in a strong way.

Instagram: @tuzintiryaki

Image Credits
@tuzintiryaki