Ersin Celayir showcases micro rice‑grain lettering art in Elazığ, Turkey

Micro‑artist Ersin Celayir, a 28‑year‑old craftsman from Keban district, Elazığ, writes names on individual copper (rice) grains using a specially‑crafted fine‑tipped pen. Since 2015 he has been able to fit up to ten names—five on each side—on a single grain, a process he likens to a rifle shot: “It must be written in a single breath like a rifle shot.”

Celayir runs a seasonal stall at the Çırçır Waterfall where he sells the engraved grains incorporated into necklaces, keychains, bracelets and amber prayer beads. He learned the technique from his brother, taught the skill to his 14‑year‑old nephew Kerem Enes Celayir (now the youngest master), and has passed the craft on to several apprentices. The pen used for the work is no longer produced, making the art a rare, almost forgotten tradition that requires intense concentration and breath control.