Ebru Artist Inspired by Rumi's Teachings

Ebru artist Fatma Betül Koyuncu has been inspired by the teachings of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi and has been creating water marbling art for 20 years, keeping her art alive by producing new works with the motto of Mevlana's poem "New Things Must Be Said".

Fatma Betül Koyuncu has signed over 1,000 works in her ebru art, which she began with the inspiration of her childhood love for Mevlana. Koyuncu, who has held 18 exhibitions both within and outside of Turkey, is now trying to instill a love for ebru art in her students at the Destegül Fine Arts Center where she first learned about ebru 20 years ago. Koyuncu, who lives in Konya, said that she has always wanted to be involved in an art form, but has had to constantly put it off due to obstacles that have come her way. Koyuncu, who grew up in a house next to the Mevlana Tomb and has lived there all her life, said that her interest in art increased even more when she saw the hat and ebru works inside the tomb. Koyuncu, who was a student in high school when she told her father that she wanted to do hat art, but was unable to do so due to the circumstances of the time, said that she never gave up on her dreams no matter what.

Koyuncu emphasizes the importance of Mevlana in her life, saying, "We used to live in one of the old houses in Konya. From the window of our house, we could see the dome of the Mevlana Museum. As a child, I loved to watch it. I was born, grew up, and lived near the Mevlana Shrine. Every time we entered the shrine, the writings on the walls, the passionate and courageous dervishes surrounding them, moved me."

 Koyuncu talks about the difficulties faced in the early years of learning the art of ebru, saying, "Actually, the initial process of traditional arts is a bit difficult, but no difficulty ever made me take a step back, they all seemed very beautiful to me.

"The most beautiful spirit of Konya is Hazreti Pir"

 Emphasizing the importance of the spiritual support received from Mevlana in starting ebru, Koyuncu said:

"Maybe because my family loved it very much, or maybe because our elders knew the value of Mevlana and told us about it, Mevlana was very important to me. I grew up playing in Mevlana's garden. In my school days, when we went to school, when we turned the corner on the street, the shrine of Mevlana was in front of us. We never passed by the shrine without reciting a Fatiha, and we would make our prayer at the tomb of Şems-i Tebrizi and Kadı İzzettin Efendi before entering class. We grew up under the influence of these people, these spiritualities. Maybe this is why my heart is inclined towards these matters. At least I say, 'Pir took me and took care of me.' It is said 'Pir is the one who came to us.' Each city has a spirit, the most beautiful spirit of Konya is Hazreti Pir, those who love him. Our city and those who have lived in our city are very beautiful. Actually, we have to appreciate them, we have to understand their teachings without breaking away from our roots. Art is a continuation of what they give. Mevlana says 'Run, run, catch the water embroidery.' Water embroidery is not caught, it is caught with water ebru."

"I try to thank Mevlana with my art"

Koyuncu, stating that he tries to thank Mevlana in his own way, said "The works I saw in the Mevlana Shrine were very beautiful to me. What I saw there settled in my mind and soul. I try to thank Mevlana by sending Fatihas, visiting him, and thanking him with my art."

Koyuncu also remembered Mevlana's poem "New Things Need to Be Said," saying "Every day we wake up is our today, and every day we need to hold onto our art to say new things."