Gul 

Mustafa Duzgunman made 'Gul' using the traditional Turkish art of Ebru, or paper marbling. This practice goes back centuries, and reflects the natural world through swirling patterns. Looking closely, you can see the image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references that extend to the historical associations of the Ottoman Empire. Ebru was an artform that was closely associated with Sufism and the Mevlevi order. The way to achieve Ebru is to carefully drip paints onto a trough of water and manipulate them into complex designs. In the 19th century, Sufi lodges became prominent in the production of Ebru. We can see this in the way calligraphers and artists of the day would incorporate Sufi themes and philosophy into their art. This became a comment on the social structures of the time, especially as these orders were eventually shut down by the Republic. As art historians, we turn to written sources and material culture to help us understand how art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.