On the line between toy and sculpture
- Müjde left her job as a nurse to pursue her childhood dream of creating dolls
- Her hand-sewn figures all include antique textiles and objects
- She uses eco-friendly paints and henna to decorate and dye her dolls
Ever since her childhood, Müjde Akyurt has been fascinated by antique fabrics and objects as well as the boundless world of her rich imagination. “I served as a nurse in the field of cardiovascular surgery for many years, but I decided to end that chapter when I felt it was no longer nourishing my soul,” says the self-taught artist. Müjde had stumbled upon an advert for an online workshop on doll art, which changed everything for her. Since that time, she has given life to characters from her own imagination, sewing intricate puppets clad in unique fabrics and accessories. Mainly inspired by her childhood, Müjde's hand-sewn fabric sculptures are also made with elements that belonged to her grandparents, or from the antique markets she explores all over Türkiye. “What I love most about practising my craft is that it enables me to express and share myself, offering boundless freedom for my emotions and imaginative world,” she says.
Interview
- What does well made mean to you?
- I can say something is well made when I find something of myself, something that resonates with me simply by looking at a piece of art. Regardless of the art form.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- I believe I blend traditional and modern elements well. The hennas and eco paints I use to colour the hair in my works, the antique fabrics I choose to make the clothes, and the old objects I attach to my sculptures, like bells, keys, and scissors, represent tradition for me. Meanwhile, the expression and form in their bodies progress more towards the modern.
- Is there something about your work that people do not realise?
- I go through a very stressful period in the process of making my dolls and toys, from the creation phase to the moment the work is completed. It is a time frame during which storms are swirling in my mind, although I keep my calm externally. This creates an impression that what I produce is effortlessly simple.
- What do you suggest to a young person who wants to pursue your craft?
- I could offer the following advice: during the creative process, try not to let any worldly concerns come between you and the artwork, especially the worry about public approval, as it distances the artist from their emotions. I would say to create fearlessly, freely, and patiently.
Müjde Akyurt is a rising star: she began her career in 2017
