Nuri Zaralı
Nuri Zaralı was born in 1982 in Istanbul, Turkey. He learned his first woodworking skills from his grandfather who was a roofer. Nuri, worked as an apprentice at a carpentry shop at the age of 10 during the school summer vacation and had the opportunity to experience all the techniques used in a carpentry workshop for 3 months. Nuri, continued his education and also worked as an apprentice in textile and leather workshops during the summer holidays and learned new skills and techniques at different areas. Nuri, received his Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering diploma while he was producing various handmade souvenirs with various techniques and materials such as wood, sewing and carving as a hobby.
He moved to Yokohama, Japan in 2019 due to his wife's career change. Nuri met Kumiko, the Traditional Japanese Woodworking Art, thanks to a documentary he watched in 2021. Nuri has been actively producing products by combining modern objects in daily use with Traditional Japanese Wood Art Kumiko since 2021
"Nuri is a very creative man with a wonderful talent of exploring and combining traditional woodworking styles to make something beautiful new and stylish. He makes beautiful pieces that I can highly recommend!"
Paul Zomerdijk, @paulzomerdijk
"Nuri’s wood work with Kumiko technique is delicately crafted by hand with such care and focus you can feel the energy emanating from the symmetrical structures. The design and precision brought to each piece is a marvel of beauty. One unique aspect of Zuri’s work is the blending of his Turkish back ground with the Japanese aesthetic which truly creates a bicultural element within this traditional craft."
Shingo Francis, www.shingofrancis.com
"Nuri’s work is very delicate and creative. The precision of his work is very impressive! I highly recommend his art!"
Juliette Innocenti, @fromjujuwithlove
"Nuri Bey ile instagram üzerinden tanıştık. Çalışmalarını sosyal medyadan keyifle takip ediyorum, ancak malesef Japonya’da yerinde görme fırsatım henüz olmadı. Takip ettiğim zanaatkarlar arasında portfolyosunu en hızlı şekilde büyüten ve çeşitlendiren kişi olabilir. Bu_ üretken adamın keyifli çalışmalarını takip etmeye devam:) Umarım bir gün atölyede kendisiyle beraber kumiko yapma fırsatı bulurum."_
Hasan Fehmi Yavuz, @atolyefehmi.com
"Her insanın bir hayat hikayesi vardır. Nuri Zaralı`nın sanıyorum hayat hikayesi müthiş bir irade ve azmi barındırıyor . Çünkü ülkenden binlerce km uzakta Japonya’da tanımadığın bir ülke, insan, kültür, lisan, yaşam tarzı ile karşılaşmak ve bunlara adapte olmak her biri yıllar alır. Fakat içindeki sanat sevgisi sanki bütün bu süreci kısaltmış. Bununla kalmamış Japonya’nın ekleme sanatı ile Türk motiflerini entegre ederek mükemmel eserler yaratmış. Kendisini tanımaktan mutlu olduğum ,sanatı kadar güzel bir insan ile sanat sohbetlerimiz müthiş bir sanat fırtınasına dönüşüyor. Gelecekte ismini çok daha fazla yerde göreceğiz bundan eminim…."
Galip Ağırkaya, @galipagirkaya
"I had the opportunity and the great pleasure to collaborate with Nuri on various pop-up stores in Tokyo and Yokohama. Nuri’s carefully crafted work offers a wide various of designs, and his kits for kids to assemble by themselves make for wonderful gift ideas and are a great source of joy for the children. Nuri’s work is of course inspired by the Japanese tradition, but he also twins into it thee beautiful influences of his own country . And I am very curious to see the new directions to which this alliance of Japan and Turkey will lead his woodwork. I can only recommend you to discover and follow Nuri’s beautiful creative path."
Patricia Noel-Nakao, www.tabitabiya.com
