Istanbul’s 1,500-year-old historical treasure, the Basilica Cistern, will host a special event on March 24th featuring the performance of marbling artist Garip Ay, especially for the month of Ramadan.

The Basilica Cistern is preparing to bring a special event to Istanbul residents for the month of Ramadan. On March 24th, master marbling artist Garip Ay will present a unique performance in the mystical atmosphere of the cistern. Emre Günay will accompany Garip Ay with a hang drum performance, blending modern and traditional marbling art.

About Garip Ay:

Starting his art journey at an early age, Ay first specialized in Fine Arts at high school and then continued his art education at the university, focusing on Traditional Arts. In 2006, Ay became acquainted with the Ebru technique widely used by bookbinders. He diligently continued to practice and discovered that in this technique, the process is as important as the result. As a result, Ay directed his attention to creating videos showcasing the Ebru process. As his videos gained wide popularity, he began to receive invitations to collaborate on various projects worldwide, including films, documentaries, music videos, advertisements, and live performances.

About Emre Günay:

Graduating successfully from Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory with a bachelor’s degree, Günay gave concerts in the Netherlands and Germany. He has engaged in special collaborations with esteemed figures such as Nick Woud (Royal Concertgebouw), Percussionist Wim Vos (Dan Hague Residentie Orchestra), Maestro Reinbert De Leeuw, and Composer Wolfgang Rihm, and performed modern music pieces.

He currently serves as the group conductor and solo timpanist for the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra, as well as the group conductor for the Cemal Reşit Rey Istanbul Symphony Orchestra. He continues to work with both local and foreign private ensembles, including the Bilkent Symphony, Tekfen Philharmonic, Borusan Philharmonic, Istanbul, Milli Reasürans Chamber Orchestra, Sinema Symphony, and Filarmonia Istanbul Orchestra.