Mamut Churlu

Maiolica, embroidery, weaving, art painting

Mamut Churlu was born in 1946 and now lives in Perevalne, Simferopol Raion, Crimea.

A unique figure in the history of modern decorative art of the Crimean Tatars, the teacher for the majority of contemporary craftsmen in Crimean Tatar ornamental art. Based on the master's sketches, the ceramists make decorative plates in the majolica technique. Following templates of Churlu compositions, masters of carpet weaving create their own color improvisations.

Churlu implemented a project to revive carpet weaving of Crimean Tatars, organized expeditions to collect materials about Crimean Tatar carpets. He restored the technique of dyeing woolen threads with natural dyes.

Mamut is a researcher of museum collections of Crimean Tatar embroidery in Ukraine and abroad, author of articles on traditional Crimean Tatar ornament, an innovator in creating large decorative panels in the technique of embroidery, based on the traditional ornamentation of the Crimean Tatars and applying the stitches of Central Asian Suzan (suzane).

Mamut Churlu is the founder of the creative association “Chatyr-Dag”, the author of the project to revive the Crimean Tatar decorative arts “Crimean Style”