Absolutely everyone alive and holding emotions - we all know some people don’t - also hold the desire to be seen. To be appreciated. To be recognized for any reason. It is with that premise in mind that the 23 year old Psychology student Bahar Türkmen started her own business, See You Ceramic Studio.

The name comes from that exact explanation. “Everyone needs to be seen. I want to use my art to tell people: I see you, I hear you, I am here. We can share experiences with a simple cup of coffee” she explains to The Dank Project.

Bahar started her ceramic business from her own bedroom, and it happened in the most random and spontaneous way. With the beginning of the pandemic, the student saw herself needing to move from Istanbul back to her hometown, Bolu. To say that the madness in the world is also driving everyone mad is an understatement, and it wasn’t any different for her. Attempting to find something therapeutic, Bahar went back to what she used to love in her childhood.

“As a kid I played a lot with sand creating new shapes and objects, that was my favorite thing to do. I had an epiphany and thought: we come from soil and go back to the soil, why don’t I play with it again?”

Only this time, sand was substituted for clay. Shapes are now products and instead of destroying it at the end of the day, she can connect with other people through these objects. That is why she created her very first piece of handmade clay mug stating “Fuck 2020”. The sincerity couldn’t be more well accepted and she sold the mug immediately.

“I did a course to learn how to work with clay and what started as just a way to relax is now a business, to your house directly from my childhood bedroom”, affirms. Her main inspiration is music - more specific, indie rock music. One of her favorite bands is The Smiths and the lyrics from “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” originated her best seller, the “There’s a light that never goes out” mug.

“I was making a mug while The Smiths was playing. Just to hear that repetitive chorus I thought it would be cool to stamp that on the mug, as so I did. Music is definitely my biggest inspiration and what makes me want to create more.”

A little over two months of existence, See You Ceramics are now a big hit - Bahar already developed over 180 objects during small drops. The Smiths didn’t just give her a creative hint but also her - so far - first collaboration: she produced a series of her best seller mug for OD Candle - another small business - combining their talent into something bigger and cooler. “We thought if there is actually a light in it, everything would make sense”, she explains.

As for her next steps Bahar wants to continue releasing drops and special orders. Her biggest dream? “I want to have a cafe that will serve everything with only my pieces.” Well, while that doesn’t happen we are sure she can try with other already existent coffees.

You can find See You Ceramic Studio on their official Instagram page.