Lütfiye Batukan

Since her childhood, Lütfiye Batukan has made Turkish folkloric dolls using clay and dough. In 1960 she learned techniques to make dolls at the Ankara Yenimahalle Institution for Girls. She prepares parts of body using materials such as cotton, natural gum: kitre (Tragacanth) and wire, and shapes them into dolls. She then dresses them in regional costumes and gives the characteristics. As of today, her doll collection is over 1,000; every doll has different characters and it is possible to see Turkish rich culture on them. In her collection, there are not only well-known Turks such as Yunus Emre, Mevlana and Nasreddin Hoca, but also many types of Anatolian Turkish people. Batukan has had many solo exhibitions in Turkey and abroad. She received one international and one national award. She was invited to New York to exhibit her dolls at the gallery of Turkish Folklore and Tourism Office. Batukan intends to open a doll museum to introduce Turkish culture and tradition. She continues to make dolls at her workshop.

Reference: tumgazeteler.com; orgu.in; cehago.com; evdose.com