Today, we take you to a workshop in Taipei that teaches people how to make Turkish mosaic lamps. The lessons are taught by experienced instructors, so that in just around two hours, you can learn how to make a lamp of your own. And it’s not just crafting. While there you can also learn about Turkish culture by trying traditional delicacies. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!
As soon as you enter the classroom, you can see all kinds of Turkish lamps. There are camping lamps, candle holders, mosaic lamps and oil lamps, among others.
The workshop provides different glass tiles and beads in 12 colors. The glass tiles have different shapes like squares, triangles and diamonds. Each shape symbolizes something different.
Muhsin Kendir
Manager and teacher
The first shape is the square. The square indicates the four main directions. East, west, north, and south. Our second shape is the triangle which indicates an individual person’s past, present, and future. The diamond which contains two triangles indicates union. Two people’s union or family union.
Participants in the workshop pick their own designs, tiles, and beads. Using these items, they learn how to make traditional Turkish mosaic lamps, and learn their history from experienced Turkish and Taiwanese instructors.
Muhsin Kendir
Manager and teacher
In 1453, they adapted this art and used it in public areas such as mosques or bazaars, and let it spread around their territory. This has also helped people understand this art deeply. Because prior to that time, it was only for rich people who has money. But when it comes to the Ottoman Empire, they take this art and publicized it.
Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Besides making Turkish mosaic lamps, you can also enjoy some Turkish tea and desserts.
During each session, the instructors bring out Turkish tea and delicious handmade goods like Turkish rice pudding. There is also Turkish music playing in the background.
Muhsin Kendir
Manager and teacher
The reason is to Turkish culture via art and create an environment for other people to socialize and learn about Turkish culture. As for the variations of this workshop. In Turkey, we have a different one. But it is not common. It is rarely seen. In our workshop, you don’t have to cut your own tiles right? But in the workshop in Turkey, it takes like one to two days or maybe three days. You need to cut your own tiles. It is a kind of hard and harsh process. We just changed that process, and we provide students with already-shaped tiles to do their work.
After the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the store has also launched an initiative to help those affected by the earthquake. They gather donations and distribute them to the Taiwan Turkey Business Council, which then sends the donations to people in Turkey.
Muhsin Kendir
Manager and teacher
Taiwan, whether individually or as a government, they helped a lot. They sent a rescue team and they send money. That is what people do in Taiwan. We are grateful for them. As a store, we don’t fundraise, we just have incentives. We help the people who can connect to the authorities in Turkey to connect them together. For example, some students give some amount of money to send to Turkey. Or some people bring some clothes or other necessities. We take them and give them to the Taiwan Turkey Business Council in Taiwan. They help us send it to Turkey. And give it to people in need.
The studio is Taiwan’s first shop teaching people how to make Turkish mosaic lamps. There are also branches in Canada, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. The store hopes that more people can learn about the beauty of Turkish culture through its workshops.