kum kum

After a 40 year career as a fine arts teacher, Birsen left the hustle and bustle of Istanbul and followed her dreams to a village on the West coast of Turkey. It was at the beginning of this new chapter, a decade ago, that she tried her hand at a new but familiar craft, which eventually led her to open her studio Kum Kum.

She was taught embroidery by her own teachers in school, as well as her mother, whose high standards of handiwork guided Birsen through her professional journey. “The way to tell if an embroidery is high quality is to examine, not the front, but the back of the piece” her mother Emine used to say.

Fast forward 11 years, Birsen’s artwork has become synonymous with her village - its plants, animals, houses and people featuring heavily in her textiles. Like a warm, colourful breeze fuelled by colour, she continues to compose contemporary stories in thread, while also commemorating her past.

Explore Kum Kum’s work below.