1. Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m Efnan Sarıahmetoğlu. I live in Fatih and work as an artist focusing on historic architecture. For the past five years, under the name Minipaperworks, I’ve been transforming Istanbul’s architectural heritage into small-scale paper works. My greatest source of inspiration is the city itself. Drawing nourishment from it and learning something new every day form the foundation of my creative process.

2. If you were to describe Istanbul in three words, what would they be?

Layered, spiritual, inspiring.

3. Could you share your first memory of a hammam? What does hammam culture mean to you?

My first hammam experience was at Zeyrek Çinili Hamam. It hasn’t become a regular routine in my life, but I can say that in that moment I felt as if I had stepped out of the flow of time and into a slower, quieter space.

4. Which traditional crafts or artisans inspire you the most, and why?

Metal hammering and lathe work. I feel that the masters who practice these crafts reflect their traditional knowledge directly in their work. That immediacy and mastery are a powerful source of inspiration for me.

5. What element of Zeyrek Çinili Hamam’s architecture or atmosphere impressed you the most?

The traces on the walls. I’m always moved by well-preserved details that bear the marks of the past. Those traces are what stayed with me most vividly at Zeyrek Çinili Hamam.

6. In the hammam, when steam and silence dominate, what music would you choose to accompany that moment?

Erkan Oğur’s interpretation of Gnossienne No.1. When I listen to that piece, I feel as though I’m in an earlier Istanbul, a time when everything moved more slowly.

7. The hammam experience symbolizes slowing down. In such a fast-paced world, how do you take a break?

Every moment I spend with myself is a pause. Wherever I am, those moments quiet my mind and make me feel that I’ve slowed down.

8. If your creative process were a traditional hammam ritual, which one would it be?

The kese (scrubbing ritual). I think it perfectly reflects the idea of layers. My creative process, like the kese, moves with a desire to uncover what lies beneath the surface.

9. If you could invite any artist or designer to the hammam, who would it be?

Henri Matisse. The freedom in his relationship with color and form would beautifully complement the hammam’s serene yet profound atmosphere. His patterns and his aesthetic dialogue with the East could bring a new dimension to the spirit of this place – one of the purest forms of inspiration for me.

10. Is there an object you always carry with you, or a personal ritual you keep?

Yes, I always carry my favorite pen. It allows me to sketch anywhere, anytime.

11. If you were to transform an element of hammam culture into a wearable artwork, what would it be?

A pair of gloves embroidered with imaginary architectural patterns representing layers. Like the kese, they would focus not on the surface but on depth – an object evoking a sense of time, place, and structure in every layer.

12. In this collaboration with Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, what inspired your design process?

The Fatih district has always been a source of inspiration for me. But through this project, for the first time, I created a series that directly interprets architectural elements. Working with a structure like Zeyrek Çinili Hamam opened the door to a strong and meaningful collection.