Kurdshop_ Sadiq Binici lives in Van City in the North part of Kurdistan. He learned the art of Sawad when he was 10 years old and now, he has been occupied with this work in his factory for 42 years.

The city of Van in the North part of Kurdistan has been the capital city of the Urartus for hundreds of years and has enriched many civilizations. One of the most important handicrafts of this city is "Sawad" (Sawad: carving shapes and figures on silver) and now several artists from this city working in some factories and workshops want to leave their art for the world's new generations.

Sadiq Binici is 52-year-old professional artist of Sawad. He moved to Istanbul at the age of 10 with his father who worked as a silverware maker. He learned the art of Sawad in detail while working for a professional worker of "Charkaz".

Over time, Binici opened a workshop of their own with his brothers, and from that day on, he has been working on silverware to carve various shapes and designs on them with any kind of tools he could use.

Every morning Binici goes to his workshop at the center of the city and makes tasbih, rings, necklaces, vases, belts, and other things in Urartu style with distinct designs on them.

Binici tries to keep his art، which is at risk of forgetting، alive and teaches his art to three other students.

Binici, who has also been nicknamed the State Artist, describes how he has been busy with this art for years, which he learned as a child from a professional Charkaz worker.

Binici mentioned he worked with his brothers for a while and also said: "I have been doing this in my workshop since 1997. I'm going to continue my work with some special silver sheets to make necklaces, rings, earrings, and… I also make some special Sawadi tasbih that no one else can make in Turkey. I am the first person to make Sawadi on gold and now I'm one of the most professional people that can make Sawadi on gold."

Binici explained that the minerals present in Sawad include "arsonic, silver and copper", and that there is a small amount of copper in 22_carat gold so mixing Sawad with gold requires careful expertise and attention.

He added that the temperature for silver and gold is not the same and he said, "If it is too hot the Sawad will be useless, and if it is not hot enough it will not stick to the gold". The type of Sawad I am making is the same as the kind that has been used from old ages that is the original kind without adding any other kind of impurity. For what I do I measure the amount of copper, Sawad, and silver. Once I have set the right rate, I am going to start working, so the amount of Sawad I am designing will not be broken."

Binici says that 150 years ago there were more than 1000 experts and apprentices in the city of Van who were busy with this work but now it is impossible to find an apprentice. He also said: the secret to success in this work is to feel the work itself.

Binici said that he has been doing this work passionately for years now: When I make a new craft, I feel very happy. I am the first person who combined Sawad with Urartu art. I have devoted 42 years of my life to this job. What bothers me is that the right price for this art is not being paid. I really would like to have a cultural and educational market for this art. I am 52 years old but I still attempt to learn more about it. This work has 22_ 23 stages. I am trying to teach them all to my apprentices.

Professor D. Rafat Chawshoglu, the head of the Faculty of Literature at the Archaeological Group of Yuzinji Yale University, said that the art of Sawad which is about to be forgotten must be revived.

Chawshoglu said that Sawad is a difficult art; "Sadiq Binici is one of the few professional experts that keeps this art alive. As the population grows larger nowadays, no experts in the Sawad field are being trained. It means that Sadiq Binici has trained himself and he is one of the experts who has his own particular technique. It is important to keep Sawad alive, especially those carvings and designs that are used in Urartu's art. Now there is only Sadiq Binici who can do this work. That's why he is been doing significant work in his field of art."