The Paper Art course aims to present katı’ (paper cutting), a prominent form within traditional Turkish-Islamic ornamental arts, through both theoretical and practical dimensions. The course is designed to enable students to understand the historical evolution, aesthetic values, and technical practices of katı’ art, and to develop the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity required to create original designs. Additionally, the course seeks to foster awareness of traditional arts, promote an understanding of cultural heritage, and encourage its sustainable continuation through contemporary interpretations.

This course addresses Paper Art—one of the traditional Turkish decorative arts—through its historical, technical, and practical dimensions. By examining original examples and notable artists from the Ottoman period, the course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of its artistic and cultural context. Beginning with fundamental practices such as symmetrical pattern cutting and the application of “female” and “male” paper-cutting techniques, the course continues with reproduction studies based on the albums of Ghaznavid Mahmud and Peter Mundy. By the end of the course, students are expected to create original Paper Art designs by applying the knowledge and techniques they have acquired.