Untitled 

This is an 'untitled' work in the traditional Turkish art of Ebru, or paper marbling, by Mustafa Duzgunman. Ebru has a rich history as a craft that has been both celebrated and marginalized by state institutions. Duzgunman brought a personal touch to this time-honored technique. Look closely at the swirling patterns, achieved by floating pigments on water and then transferring them to paper. The cultural references are subtle, with the repeated floral patterns and the border suggesting the influence of Islamic art and calligraphy. Duzgunman was celebrated as a master of Ebru. It can be easy to see the work simply as decoration. But the way the craft has negotiated the tension between tradition and modernism gives it its real depth. The question of how it is displayed and used is a reminder of the way institutions and individuals play a part in the value that we give to art. Careful consideration of its history can only deepen our appreciation.