Art at the Edge and the Calm of Islands
The last stretch of June came in hot and bright. I found relief in shaded galleries and breezy ferry decks. This week, I saw art that explored the edge of silence, wandered on Heybeliada beneath pine trees, and finished the month with a quiet sense of fullness. Istanbul in summer has a way of slowing you down—just enough to notice more.
“Summer Garden” at .artSümer
June 26 – August 23, 2025
On a hot July afternoon, I stepped into the cool interior of .artSümer, curious about their latest group exhibition, Summer Garden. The name alone sounded like a relief—somewhere between memory and escape. But this wasn’t just a celebration of sun-drenched afternoons or blooming petals. The show brought together works by Onur Gülfidan, Gözde İlkin, CANAN, Banu Birecikligil, Eymen Aktel, Cansu Çakar, Merve Çanakçı, and Serkan Demir—each artist offering their own interpretation of what a garden can hold.
What I loved most was how the exhibition pushed beyond the surface beauty of summer. There were soft colors and intricate forms, yes, but also a quiet tension. One piece whispered about paradise, while another hinted at the cost of preserving it. The gallery’s layout let these contrasts unfold gently, with each corner holding something unexpected. I found myself thinking about how we carry personal gardens inside us—some joyful, some overgrown with things we try not to name.
I can’t say I understood every work fully (and I admit, some of the text panels were a little dense for my Turkish), but I left feeling like the show had managed to hold a mirror up to the season itself. Not just the picnic version of summer—but the uncertain, changing one we’re all living through. If you’re in Istanbul and looking for something thought-provoking but not overwhelming, Summer Garden is worth the detour.
.artSümer is located at İstiklal Caddesi Mısır Apartmanı No:163/4, Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
“Where You Are Understood” – Group Exhibition at Anna Laudel Istanbul
June 1 – August 31, 2025
The first-floor galleries at Anna Laudel Istanbul are currently home to Where You Are Understood, a group exhibition that radiates with color, symbolism, and quiet transformation. Centered on the theme of blooming, the show brings together works by Ramazan Can, Ertuğrul Güngör & Faruk Ertekin, Bilal Hakan Karakaya, Ekin Su Koç, Ardan Özmenoğlu, Özlem Yenigül, and Hanefi Yeter. Each piece explores the layered, often invisible processes through which people and objects evolve—and how beauty often emerges from tension.
The image of the flower, used here as a metaphor for hope, change, and aesthetic potential, recurs throughout the exhibition—but never in the same form. Some works are vibrantly direct: Ekin Su Koç’s paintings of mythic feminine figures almost explode with color and confidence, while Ardan Özmenoğlu’s textured surfaces draw you in with their optical rhythm and saturated hues. Other works, like the elegant sculptures and ceramics by Hanefi Yeter or the totem-like forms of Ramazan Can, suggest quieter kinds of blooming—personal, cultural, spiritual.
The variety of mediums—painting, sculpture, digital work, ceramics—adds a dynamic tempo to the exhibition. Still, there’s a unifying sense of balance: each artist brings their own interpretation of what it means to grow, to change, and to be seen.
As I moved through the space, I kept thinking about the exhibition title. There’s a vulnerability in the idea of wanting to be understood—and a deep beauty in artworks that take that desire seriously. Where You Are Understood doesn’t offer easy answers, but it creates a space where visual language speaks with tenderness and conviction.
Anna Laudel Istanbul is located at Boğazkesen Caddesi No: 10, Tophane, Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
Balat Courtyard Concert: Indie Strings
June 28, 2025
A tucked-away event in a Balat courtyard lit with string lights and framed by crumbling brick walls. A trio of local musicians blended indie folk and Anatolian melodies on violin, guitar, and percussion. The acoustics were perfect. I sat on a cushion with a glass of mulberry sherbet, listening as dusk settled. One of those nights where nothing flashy happens—just beauty unfolding slowly.
Address: Private courtyard near Vodina Cd., Balat, Fatih
Heybeliada Summer Stroll
One weekday morning, I took the ferry to Heybeliada. Less crowded than Büyükada, and somehow more peaceful. I walked up through the pine-scented roads to the old monastery and sat with a sandwich near the Naval High School, watching sea traffic from a quiet bench. On the way back, I bought candied almonds from an old man with a basket. No agenda. Just summer.
Address: Heybeliada, Adalar
Cuma – Brunch in Çukurcuma
I finally made it to Cuma after hearing about it for years. Their shaded back garden is a dream—overgrown vines, terracotta pots, and mismatched wooden tables. I had a cold lentil salad with herbed yogurt and a pomegranate spritz. Not cheap, but lovely. The whole place feels like it was built for late June afternoons.
Address: Cuma, Firuzağa Mah. Çukur Cuma Cd. No:53/A, Cihangir
So ends June—with shadow and sun, ferries and frescoes, cold drinks and quiet art. July waits, and I’m already wondering what it will bring.
Why Turkiye? 
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