On 11 September 2026, the Faculty of Arts at Abai University hosted an international master class entitled “Formalist Surface Compositions.” The session was conducted by Mitat Kandemir, a researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture and Design of Selçuk University.

The main purpose of the event was to connect traditional decorative and applied arts with contemporary artistic inquiry, develop students’ compositional thinking, and expand their creative potential. Faculty members and students actively participated in the master class.

Mitat Kandemir is an experienced specialist whose research interests include traditional Turkish crafts, embroidery techniques, decorative and applied arts, cultural heritage, ethnographic objects, digital design, and souvenir product design. A key focus of his work is the integration of traditional ornaments and national motifs into contemporary design practice. He is the author of Çocuklar İçin Kanaviçe İğne Teknikleri, Aladağ’ın İncisi Derbent, and El Sanatları Araştırmaları, and has also served as an editor for a number of academic publications and collections.

During the session, the guest lecturer explained the relationship between line, colour, rhythm, texture, and space in the creation of a composition. Drawing on examples of Turkic ornamentation, participants developed visual concepts and completed practical creative assignments. This approach made it possible to combine theoretical knowledge with artistic practice.

The event concluded with an open discussion, during which students and faculty members explored current developments in art, crafts, and design. International meetings of this kind strengthen the Faculty of Arts’ academic connections and broaden students’ professional and creative horizons.