Paper Mache Artist Nuray Lüküs of Nora Home Design

Nuray Lüküs of Nora Home Design is a talented paper mache artist in Istanbul, as well as an architect and designer who I met via Instagram. I liked her contemporary and often whimsical work immediately, and thought sharing it here would be a good companion post for the recent one about Ebru Baç, who is also a paper mache artist in Turkey. And as it turned out, the two know one another! I invited Nuray to tell us about herself and her connection to Ebru.

 

 

"I graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Edirne and began my career as an assistant. Following my marriage, I moved to Istanbul, where I continued my professional journey as a chief architect at Istanbul Municipality. In 2005, a cancer diagnosis prompted me to reevaluate my life, leading me to embrace a natural lifestyle in terms of diet, clothing, and overall living. This experience heightened my awareness of the need to give back to our environment, nature, and the world.

 

 

My journey into the arts began with yoga, which I integrated into my life, followed by an exploration of various artistic disciplines. I started with ceramics and continued to expand my skills, delving into jewelry making, hand sewing leather, and creating patterns for fabric printing. In November 2018, I attended a workshop led by Ebru Baç, which marked the beginning of my work with papier-mâché. Leveraging my skills from ceramics and architectural background, I created unique pieces and decided to pursue this path further.

 

 

The idea of using entirely recycled paper to produce art without contributing to environmental pollution or excessive energy consumption greatly inspired me. I began by crafting bowls of various sizes, then moved on to smaller sculptures, and eventually larger ones. Over time, I held several exhibitions in Istanbul, culminating in my participation in the Upcycle Istanbul Art & Design Festival in 2023.

 

In an era where our world is rapidly becoming polluted, the climate crisis is deepening, and consumerism is escalating, I find immense satisfaction in creating new designs from waste paper. Upcycling has become an integral part of my life. The materials I use in my creative process are all reclaimed items, including waste paper, cardboard boxes, wood, stone fragments, metal scraps, and wires.

 

The arduous process that paper undergoes to become pulp, its texture, the natural colors derived from different papers, and the entire process being challenging yet completely under my control have all deeply connected me to this medium. Adding color to some pieces to inject joy and excitement has been a significant aspect of my work.

 

 

Through my art, I strive to create sustainable pieces that do not harm the ecosystem or the prospects of future generations. I am profoundly grateful to be able to convey the importance of upcycling to humanity and to live this principle in every aspect of my life."

 

 

Such an inspiring read - thank you, Nuray! I love what you said about the entire process of working with paper mache being challenging, yet completely under your control. I'm so glad you found an artistic occupation that provides you with such satisfaction while it also betters the world.

 

 

 Nuray Lüküs

 

You can reach Nuray via direct message on Instagram where she is @nora_homedesign. She also can be found on Shopier where she has a storefront, Nora Home Design.