Kemal İyikalp has been involved in traditional crafts such as talar (dalari) making, sele and sepet (basket and wicker weaving), and kaval (flute) making since the age of twelve. He learned the craft of talar making simply by watching an aunt once, and shortly afterwards began earning his own living through this work. Being able to support himself from such a young age, without taking pocket money from his father, has always been a great source of pride for him. Kemal’s passion for art extended into other fields as well. At the age of fifteen, during his high school years, he learned to play the saz, making music an enduring part of his life.

The vessel in which halloumi and nor are drained and shaped is known as a talar, also referred to as dalari. The material used in making talar, known as dere çöpü, is traditionally gathered from riverbanks. However, as Kemal points out, the cleaning of riverbeds in recent years has made this material much harder to find. Dere çöpü is also known as “makarna çöpü,” as it was once used to shape handmade pasta. Beyond talar and pasta moulds, this material has also been used to make various everyday items such as olive containers and brooms.

A lifelong learner with a strong desire to research and improve himself, Kemal İyikalp has always practised traditional crafts with deep care and dedication. As his commitment to these arts grew, he served as President of the Turkish Cypriot Handicrafts Cooperative for three years around 1999, during which time he worked on a number of different projects. In the early 2000s, he opened a shop at Büyük Han, bringing his craft to a wider audience. Today, he continues to practise his craft from his home, sustaining and preserving his traditional skills.