Ufuk Girgiç

Tapestry maker

Celebrating the symbolism of the sun

Ufuk is a self-taught weaving artist who creates unique works of tapestry art
She turned her lifelong hobby into her main profession in 2018
She uses natural materials of various textures and knots to tell a myriad of stories

Working at major advertising agencies as a leading manager for years, it was not until 2018 that Ufuk Girgiç turned to her craft fully. Inspired by renowned Turkish visual artists like Belkis Balpınar, Ufuk had spent her free time until then delving into weaving through research and producing her own works as a hobby. Spurred on by the effects of the pandemic, she opened her workshop in 2020 and transitioned to tapestry weaving full-time. “I dream, draw, weave and touch,” she says. “The sole aim of my art is to keep traditions sustainable, uniting them with fun, modern and abstract designs.” Inspired by the Bauhaus era and traditional Turkish motifs, Ufuk's work uses the means of weaving to tell new stories and make works of art. Mobile thanks to her portable loom, she can often be found in her garden or by the sea, diligently weaving her unique works.

Interview

Do you master any specific techniques?: I enjoy creating depth by using different natural fibres in a single tapestry, such as jute, sisal, straw, bamboo, cotton, and wool. This creates the effect of a brush stroke, much like a painter. I try to blend traditional knots with traditional motifs whilst simultaneously redefining them all.
Why did you choose this craft as your career?: The whole process is very intricate and the design takes a long time. Once you have started, you cannot alter anything, with weaving. You draft the design on paper, colour it in, you choose the fibres, all of which is followed by the craftsmanship itself. I believe tapestry weaving is the best way for me to express myself and bring together different techniques with my passion for textiles and storytelling.
What are your sources of inspiration?: My works express everything from diving into deep water and walking into a marketplace, to witnessing all the incredible archaeology, architecture and Anatolian tradition of my home country. Evil eyes, the sea with all its shades and creatures, Iznik tiles, Aegean and Mediterranean cultures, their mythologies and legends and especially the myths about the sun are my major resources.
In what way is your craft linked to the territory?: Weaving is well-known in all of Türkiye as well as the Mesopotamian regions. Every region has its own techniques for weaving cloth and rugs, and regional motifs and symbols. It is hard not to be enchanted by that! I try to portray my country, with all its sentiment and joy, through a novel approach to tapestry.

Ufuk Girgiç is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1992