Göbeklitepe Design Collection, inspired by Göbeklitepe and carried out by Şanlıurfa Tourism Development Inc. and Design Elements, invites us to feel the mystery of the past with the "Touch the Secret of History” slogan. The designs in the collection were developed by 6 designers with inspiration from Göbeklitepe's monumental structures, geography, figures, rituals and architecture. The aim of the collection, produced by Sirmersan Marble and Design Elements, is to provide an experience that the whole world can explore the secret parts of Göbeklitepe, the starting point of human history.
The designers Buket Hoşcan Bazman, Ceren Gürkan, Eli Bensusan, Emre Yunus Uzun, Mustafa Timur and Şule Koç came together in Göbeklitepe under the curatorship of Nurcihan Beyazıt for the collection, interpreted the cultural heritage of Göbeklitepe and the natural stones that have been used for thousands of years, with a creative perspective.
Design Elements; brings decorative marble products together with their original designs. Sirmersan Marble and Design Elements which have taken part in many different projects up until now, offers a unique collection by blending the mystery of the starting point of history with natural stone. The aim of the project is to promote Göbeklitepe to the world through the collection, to introduce Turkish natural stones through design, to create new areas of use for natural stone. The unique products with high added value and export potential in the collection will be presented to world markets under the brand of Design Elements.
How the collection was created?
“While searching for the story of the oldest known monumental structure in the world, we found ourselves in this story. We have found ourselves in the figures, rituals, beliefs and behavior patterns of this 12000 years old cultural heritage which we approached with a creative perspective. We personally experienced the difficulties faced in the mining and processing of these stones in our design and production processes. We aimed to bring these stones into the daily life of today’s people with a similar effort. This collection was created by using the modern stone processing technologies we have today.”
Curator Nurcihan Beyazit
Designs
Orbit
“The Orbit functional set was designed with inspiration from the cult buildings and monumental architecture that make Göbeklitepe unique. The orbit consists of 4 pieces in total, and each of these pieces represents the 4 structures unearthed in the region.”
Designer: Buket Hoşcan Bazman
Origin Vase
“Göbeklitepe is located in the northern top of the area in the shape of moon, which is defined as the Fertile Crescent, located between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, where the oldest known permanent settlement culture was originated. The Origin Vase, inspired by the unique form of the Fertile Crescent, emphasizes Göbeklitepe's geographical location and importance on this crescent. The beginning of the vase represents Göbeklitepe and the life here.”
Designer: Buket Hoşcan Bazman
Ritual
“The relationship between man and god begins with Ritual, which tells about the rites of Göbeklitepe, the secret of which we have not yet revealed. The candlesticks, inspired by the T-shaped obelisks arranged in a certain order in the region, represent the torso of the people performing their secret rituals, and the candle represents their heads. The old man who erects monuments to express his sacred habits and the new man who uses the candle as part of its rituals are united in Ritual.”
Designer: Ceren Gürkan
STAMP
“Can we gain experiential information about the life of the people of Göbeklitepe by using products similar to the objects in their daily rituals? Stamp offers the opportunity to take a closer look at the habits of history.”
Designer: Eli Bensusan
RAISE
“After someone shaped and erected a stone that is mined from the underground, it differentiates from any stone and becomes a symbol. We don't know how this magical moment happened for the first time, what was the meaning of the stone and whether it can be explained with the language we use. All we know is that the mined and processed is perceived as 'on the top' and 'meaningful' compared to the one on the ground. Göbeklitepe is one of the first examples of this idea, which is at the base of all structures and monuments. Raise is a candle holder that mimics this primitive act, celebrating the symbol-making ability at the root of being human.”
Designer: Eli Bensusan
Whisper of Snakes
“The 'snake', one of the ancient myths of the world, is perhaps the strongest and most silent witness in history. In the stories where opposites come together, snakes; exist as the representatives of feminine and masculine, poisonous and healing, death and rebirth, life, reproduction and fertility, for centuries and witnessed existence. For this reason, it is not a coincidence that snakes, which are the representatives of mystical, mysterious and divine images such as lilith and basilisk are still the representative of the earth in Göbeklitepe, which holds the oldest records of humanity and came to light in our age. To listen to this whisper, I formed them from stones and minerals baked with high pressure and heat underground, and invited them to our homes, our lives and to our tables. Let's hear the ancient stories of these sages."
Designer: Mustafa Timur
Light of the Past
“All the lights you can see come from the past. Your journey is guided by a source of light, a clue with wisdom. In the deepest dark night, in the darkest sky, the stars and the moon show the way, the light gives hope. Göbeklitepe carries the light of the unknown and the untold until the day it will be visible. Now is the time to understand the Stone Hills and surrender to its knowledge. Heaven and earth united, a new age is about to begin… The light of the past is with you to guide your grandchildren who have been waiting for centuries.”
Designer: Mustafa Timur
BEYOND
“The fact that the symbolic meanings of Göbeklitepe have no equivalent today reveals a mystery in itself and a situation open to discovery. As it unravels, many answers to self-understanding will emerge. This desire to explore and the emergence of fragmentary meanings are revealed as a search for texture completion in serving dishes. The uniqueness of the stone in itself has been transformed into a piece of the puzzle.”
Designer: Şule Koç
Anthro
“It consists of a number of handles of some tools which are not identified exactly. These handles also refer to tools from the Göbeklitepe period. These different forms awaken the imagination of their users. They can also use these handle parts for different functions such as crushing sugar, hammering spices or for combing… It depends on the imagination of the user. They are pieces from the Göbeklitepe period.”
Designer: Şule Koç
