Renowned poet’s daughter-in-law preserves old art of fabric printing

ÇORUM - Anadolu Agency

Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu’s Canadian daughter-in-law, Hughette Eyüboğlu is working to keep the art of fabric printing alive for future generations by giving workshops attended by local women. AA photos

The 500-year-old art of fabric printing, which has almost been forgotten in the Central Anatolian province of Çorum’s İskilip district, is surviving through workshops given in courses opened by the daughter of famous late Turkish painter and poet Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu’s Canadian daughter-in-law, Hughette Eyüboğlu.

In İskilip – which is famous for its wood houses, century-old fountains and historical structures – work has been carried out to keep the art of fabric printing, a significant Turkish handicraft, alive.

On the initiative of Eyüboğlu, who was very impressed by İskilip when she came in 1942, a course was opened by the Hitit University İskilip Vocational School (MYO) and İskilip Girls’ Technical and Vocational School in an attempt to keep the art of fabric printing alive for future generations.

The courses were opened in Yazmalı Konak, which was restored by the İskilip District Governorship and İskilip Municipality and serves artistic activities. Begül Özkoca is giving courses to 25 people, including housewives and students, on printing, mould and composition as well as the art of fabric printing.

Eyüboğlu told Anadolu Agency that she was very hopeful about the fabric printing courses, adding that trainees were given various training over a month.

‘500-year-old art disappeared’

Embroidery is in the genetics of Turkish women, Eyüboğlu said. “I have opened courses in France but French women do not have the concept of embroidery. They don’t know about what a motif is. Some women made scissors as a motif, which is the weirdest thing I have ever seen. There are thousands of motifs in Turkey. There are lots of great examples on many topics, such as the tulip. Women show their talent. They have very rich compositions in fabric printing and you can’t see it everywhere.”

The art of fabric printing has a history of 500 years and was very significant among Turkish handicrafts, Eyüboğlu said. “It is very interesting that a 500-year-old handicraft has disappeared. But it is possible to keep such a forgotten art alive with a small attempt. And we have succeeded.”

She said the trainees worked devotedly. “They have worked and produced with great love and energy. It is not easy to learn printing, molding, dying and composition in a month. They have succeeded. Then we opened an exhibit to show their work. It was very productive.”

İskilip district Gov. Mehmet Yılmaz said the traditional art of fabric printing was one of the arts defeated by technology. “We have once again started to revive this art in İskilip. One of the most important results of activities that we have started with Eyüboğlu is the preservation of the art of fabric printing. We can see the results of the step that we have taken. There are three active fabric printing ateliers.”