Sea Breezes, gallery walls, and the Pulse of Istanbul
It was a hot, sunny week, But, as usual, the breeze off the Bosphorus cooled things down, and the light had that golden, flickering quality that makes everything feel cinematic. I followed that light—from exhibitions to busy docks, to a ferry ride to Büyükada.
Crossroads 8 – ArtOn Piyalepaşa
July 5 – July 19, 2025
This week I visited Crossroads 8, a group exhibition at ArtOn Piyalepaşa that brings together a wide range of emerging voices from the Turkish contemporary art scene. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I was immediately struck by the diversity of styles and mediums. Painting, sculpture, and mixed media all shared the space, each artist contributing a different perspective — not just in terms of subject, but in approach and material.
The gallery’s bright, open layout allowed the works to breathe, and I appreciated how the exhibition let you move at your own pace. There was no single narrative, but rather a collection of personal expressions that sometimes echoed each other, sometimes contrasted — just as you’d expect from an exhibition called Crossroads. I spent extra time circling back to certain corners, just to let things settle a bit more in my mind.
It was refreshing to see so many young or independent artists together. The exhibition felt honest and alive, and
I left thinking how important it is that places like Art On continue to support
this kind of work — fresh, full of energy, experimentation, and depth.
If you’re curious about what’s emerging right now in Istanbul’s contemporary art scene — and you enjoy seeing a range of media together in one show — this is worth a visit before it closes on July 19.
Piyalepaşa Boulevard No:24, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Visiting hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
“Kölemen 7” – Group Exhibition at Galeri Bosfor
July 9 – August 23, 2025
Galeri Bosfor’s new space in Karaköy has an almost architectural quiet to it—clean, tall, minimal. When I visited Kölemen 7, curated by Gökşen Buğra, that quiet became the perfect frame for a show that feels dense with thought and layered with contrasts. The exhibition brings together a wide range of voices—Ahmet Çerkez, Barış Göktürk, Betül Kotil, Burcu Erden, Eda Soylu, Erman Özbaşaran, Funda Susamoğlu, Ilgın Seymen, Işıl Kapu, Mithat Şen, Olgu Ülkenciler, and Yasha Butler—each circling around themes that don’t resolve easily.
The title Kölemen 7 suggests a continuation, a series, maybe even a family of exhibitions. But this one stands confidently on its own. The works span materials and moods—from sculptural to conceptual, delicate to defiant. I found myself drawn to a quiet tension running through the room: pieces that questioned identity, visibility, presence. Not everything revealed itself right away—and that was part of the pleasure.
It’s a show that rewards lingering, and the curation gives you space to wander and pause. Some works tugged at political threads, others seemed almost mythological, but all carried that sharp, searching energy I’ve come to associate with the best of Istanbul’s contemporary scene.
Galeri Bosfor is located at Hacımimi Mahallesi, Lüleci Hendek Caddesi No:14, Karaköy, Istanbul.
Büyükada Midweek Escape
I took a midweek ferry to Büyükada and felt the city slip away behind me. On the island, the roads were nearly empty. I rented a bike, then walked it most of the time, stopping at old stone fountains and shaded gardens. I ended up at the Monastery of St. George after a very steep climb and was rewarded with a panoramic view of sea and silence. Just me and the sound of cicadas.
Address: Büyükada, Adalar
Why Turkiye? 
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