The nearly 600-year-old Harik art that has fallen into oblivion is trying to be conveyed to the new generations with the efforts and perseverance of two friends.

The art of Harik, which belongs to Bitlis, an eastern province of Turkiye, made of goat hair and hemp, was a favorite of both the locals and the art community, but nowadays the interest in it has decreased considerably.

Two friends who started this art together, in a difficult journey from 12 stages of Harik art, waiting for support in order this art not to vanish.

Harik used by the local people as shoes in the past keeps feet cool in the summer and keeps warm in winter.

Harik prevents the formation of athlete's foot, is also used as ornaments and souvenirs in houses. Just because of the difficulties at the stages of making the product and low earning profit, it is hard to find any apprentices to raise in this field.

"Our aim is to keep Harik art alive"

Expressing that he is at the end of this art, which he started with his friend in 1996; Haydar Yılmaz said that they are the last masters of the art.

Stating that their aim is to keep alive the art that is about to disappear and to pass it on to the next generations, Yılmaz said:

"This is an art that is about to disappear. Our aim is to keep this art alive. I have fought on my own for many years so that our art will not disappear."

Yılmaz also touched on the history of the art of Harik and the difficulties in its producing. He stated that the authorities should support them in order to keep this art alive.

"We do not have any certifiable information but rumors say that this art is used in Bitlis for 600 years. We are fighting for 22 years to keep this 600-years-art alive which facing the disappearance."

Saying that they expect support from associations in their fight against the disappearance of this art, Yılmaz underlined: Producing Harik is very difficult. I can do a pair in 5 days. According to the trainer's ability, some cannot do a pair in a month. Besides that it has dust, has difficulty, hands can be worn down, gives pain to the bone during making a pair of Harik."

Speaking about the Harik art, Serkan Kurtulge reminded that this profession was difficult and that no one was doing it because of financial difficulties, and that his only desire was to provide support for the survival of this art.

ILKHA