Petals and poets: a Turkish cultural workshop

Turkish paper marbling teacher works with students at tables with inks and paper

Didar is a Persian word meaning ‘to visit’. It is the moment when evocative memories transcend time and place. It is the excitement of hearing from the beloved. It is intimacy with a subject, and the anticipation of a new experience.

In this workshop, attendees experienced the Didar exhibition through the lens of the rose (gül), a flower with deep roots in Turkish culture.

They heard from a Sufi master on the symbol of the rose in Sufi thought and poetry, tried their hand at traditional ebru paper marbling, and enjoyed Turkish refreshments to complete the multisensorial experience.

Remember to stop and smell the roses!

Presented in partnership with Didar: Stories of Middle Eastern Manuscripts.