Yazmacılık (Traditional Block Printing): An Eco-Technological and ethical cultural heritage

Abstract

Traditional block printing is a unique part of Turkey’s intangible cultural heritage, shaped by nature-based motifs and produced with natural materials. In today’s world, where traditional production techniques are being re-evaluated for their sustainability and harmony with nature, block printing is gaining importance as an eco-technological and ethical artistic practice. The aim of this study is to discuss the relationships between block printing and ecological art through its ethical, cultural, and technological dimensions. The works of Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, who brought block printing into artistic production, and the contemporary art practices of Müge Akçakoca and Müge Caferoğlu are exemplified within this context. Akçakoca, addressing block printing from a vegan perspective, creates works that advocate for animal freedom, while Caferoğlu views block printing as an expressive tool aimed at creating ecological awareness through works that focus on endangered species. The evaluation, conducted through an eco-critical approach, reveals that block printing, both in its traditional and contemporary forms, is well-suited to establishing an ethical, nature-compatible artistic language. This study aims to demonstrate how block printing can be re-functionalized as an ecological and ethical production model within contemporary art practices.