ARZU-KEŞ Micro Mosaics
Throughout the years from Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire on Anatolian lands, all kinds of mosaics made have always fascinated me. It’s impossible not to admire the pictures created by cutting and combining small pieces of glass or marble in various colors. Especially considering that thousands of years ago, in times without current tools and technology, people created floor and wall mosaics over meters long with patience. When I think about the mosaics they made on church domes, I can’t help but wonder, “What kind of motivation, faith, and patience did these people have?”
Towards the end of the 2000s, I started to take an interest in and research micro mosaics. They were making micro mosaics in Italy with Murano glass and semi-precious stones.
Since the material in my workshop is ceramic clay, when I posed the question, “How can I make micro mosaics with ceramics inside jewelry?” I began experimenting.
Since 2007, I have made ceramic and porcelain micro mosaics at different times. All the pieces I create are both closely related to each other and unique… A keen eye notices that each one is a new and singular product.
I realized that every micro mosaic I make is a journey of experimentation, learning, and patience. I remember coming across the word “ARZU-KEŞ” in a book I read during my time making ceramic micro mosaics. “Arzu-Keş” is explained in Persian as someone who is eager, enthusiastic, and fervent. When I learned its meaning, micro mosaic making immediately came to mind.
