Taraklı Ebru 

Mustafa Duzgunman created this example of Tarakli Ebru, or marbled paper, by floating pigments on water and then transferring the designs to paper. The dominant visual experience is one of swirling movement, created by the intricate patterns of curvilinear lines. The palette is restrained, featuring earthy browns, muted blues, and subtle creams. The all-over composition denies a singular focal point, challenging traditional notions of hierarchical space in art. This decentralization echoes the post-structuralist idea that meaning is dispersed and fluid, rather than fixed. The lack of a clear distinction between figure and ground further destabilizes established categories, inviting us to question our assumptions about what constitutes an image. In Ebru, the artist's hand is present but mediated by the unpredictable nature of the medium. This tension between control and chance aligns with modernist concerns about authorship and the role of the artist. Ultimately, Tarakli Ebru functions as a meditation on the interplay between intention and accident, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.