We Belong: Istanbul’74 Group Exhibition Explores Community and Resilience

Istanbul’74 is showcasing 'We Belong,' a collective exhibition featuring 28 artists in a former gym that is set to transform into a private club. Curated by Demet Müftüoğlu Eşeli, this exhibition explores the essential human desire for community in the face of pandemic challenges, divisive politics, and environmental issues. Notable works include Alper Aydın's 'Red Pill' (2023), an eight-meter-tall sculpture of a capsized sailboat symbolizing Black Sea floods; Robert Montgomery's neon phrase 'Love is the revolutionary energy...' previously displayed at the Tuileries Garden in Paris; and Ekin Bernay's pandemic-era video 'Resilient Responses' for Tate Modern. The show features early Turkish modernists like Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu and Erol Akyavaş, alongside contemporary artists such as Berke Yazıcıoğlu, whose tapestry 'The Rite of Spring, Act I Scene 6' illustrates storks near a nuclear mushroom cloud, reflecting Istanbul's evolving urban landscape. Other highlights include Belkis Balpınar's 'Skyscraper' (2000), which critiques Turkey's construction boom by reinterpreting Anatolian carpet designs, Işıl Kapu's 'Untitled' (2023) cement totem pole reminiscent of Neolithic idols, and Burçak Bingöl's fragmented ceramic vases that challenge kintsugi. Anselm Reyle adds large ceramic sculptures, Sarkis enhances a photograph with vibrant fingerprints, and Bosco Sodi displays textured paintings. The exhibition is accessible by appointment and will continue until 3 February 2024.