My first formal training in Ebru took place in Ankara, Turkey, where I studied the traditional techniques of Turkish water marbling in a classical studio environment.

Under the guidance of a master Ebru artist, I learned the foundations of the practice: preparing the marbling bath with natural gum, working with earth pigments, and transferring patterns from the surface of water onto paper and fabric.

What quickly became clear was that Ebru is not a process of total control. Each drop of pigment interacts with the water in its own way, responding to subtle movements and currents on the surface. The artist proposes a gesture, but the water ultimately determines the final form.

These early experiences shaped the way I understand art today. Before experimenting with projection, performance, or the human body as a canvas, I first learned to observe and collaborate with the behavior of water.

The photographs below document this period of study in Ankara, where my relationship with Ebru began.