About Me

About Artist

Cumhur Aygün is a Turkish Graphic Designer and Advertising Photographer.

He discovered his passion for art in his young age and later decided to study in painting. He graduated from UÜEF Painting Teaching Department of Graphic Design. He received his master’s degree from MSÜGF Graphic Design and Photography Department. With 25 years of experience, he still continues his professional career in the field of Graphic Design and Advertising Photography. Cumhur Aygün, who has always loved handicrafts, has now taken his hobby level interest in the multi-disciplinary nature of printmaking towards professionalism.

Cumhur Aygün already live in the city of Bursa, Turkey. As a full-time artist, he continues to work in Graphics, Promotional Photography, video and printmaking, and enjoys life the rest of the time.

You can learn more about Cumhur Aygün’s work and the printmaking process by following his Art Craft Ca page, Instagram and YouTube channel or by contacting him on the contact page.

Handmade Linoleum Printing

Cumhur Aygün creates a limited number of decorative art prints with traditional printing techniques. Inspired by Seljuk motifs and tiles, the first collection designs are adapted and reflected back to the present day with the traditional printing technique.

In the works of Cumhur Aygün, besides the animal symbols used by the Seljuks who lived in Anatolian lands in their traditional handicrafts, geometric and floral motifs and even imaginary creatures such as griffins are also used. All prints of Cumhur Aygün were designed and engraved in his home studio, and printed in a limited number of handcrafted papers.

Printing Technique

The technique of printing pictures from carved molds emerged in the 3rd century in China. The ability to make handmade paper in China in 105, prepared the birth of the art of printing. The art of printing, which started in the Far East countries, later moved to the West and continued until the 18th century, starting in the 14th century, and caused the birth of the art of book illustration.

Interaction

As humans make use of animals in line with their needs, they also attribute meanings to them in line with their physical or characteristic features. We come across animal symbolism even in Göbeklitepe about 12,000 years ago.

In the Central Asian geography, there are many stylized and naturalist symbols dealing with various animal motifs of the Turks and their struggles.

Seljuks (10-13 centuries) used geometric and floral motifs as well as animal symbols, and even imaginary creatures such as gryphons in their decorations.

The tree of life, one of the plant symbols, is one of the oldest subjects of Turkish art. It symbolizes such concepts as the tree of life, heaven and abundance. It is known that the eight-pointed star symbolizes heaven in geometric symbols.

These figures provide information about the social, cultural, political structure, traditional cult and myths of the Seljuk society with an abstract expression. In order to understand these symbols, it is necessary to consider a wide visual language from Central Asia to Chinese mythology, from ancient near east beliefs to Christian iconography and early Islamic symbolism.

Seljuks frequently used all these figures in building types that serve different purposes such as caravanserais, mausoleums and mosques they built in Anatolia and in handicrafts such as tiles and ceramics.

In all stages of his work, Cumhur Aygün, focusing on sustainability and quality and being influenced by Seljuk Art, which is the biggest source of inspiration, presented us his works with linoleum printing technique.