Wood Burning Art Finds Life in Konya

Zeki Tuğyan, a 68-year-old artist who has been practicing the art of wood burning in Konya for 56 years, continues the art he learned from his master in his elementary school years.

Zeki Tuğyan, who started his career under the guidance of his teacher's brother, who was also a master in the field, upon his teacher's recommendation during his primary school years, has now spent 56 years in the art. Tuğyan, a retired firefighter, continued practicing the art of wood burning as a side job while working as a firefighter.

Zeki Tuğyan, who began this craft upon the recommendation of his primary school teacher, recounted, "In 1967, during the summer holidays when I was in primary school, I used to engage in this craft quite often. During our free time from school, about 15 of us would work together at my primary school teacher's brother's place. I started working at the age of 12, and my brother started when he was 10."