Felt (Kulav)

Felt (Kulav) is a performative process in which Huseyin Umaysız explores the connection between body, material, and movement. Rooted in the centuries-old felting tradition found in many parts of the world, the work focuses on repetitive and physically demanding techniques such as rubbing, beating, and flattening wool.

In February 2025, the artist collaborated with felt master Kadir Karcı in Urfa, Northern Kurdistan, where he learned a unique technique: using the chest to beat wool, where the cleaning and shaping of the wool merges with breath and rhythm.

This act takes on a ritual dimension, in which physical memory and the presence of the feltmaker are embedded in the material. Felt invites the audience to experience the passage of time across different geographical contexts, as bodies move in a slow, rhythmic process of transformation.