Flowing City

“Flowing City” explores the multilayered relationship between artistic production and water through the lens of Istanbul. From the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn to freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, and urban memory, the exhibition brings together contemporary artistic practices with classical paintings and historical photographs. Through local narratives and global perspectives, the selection invites visitors to reflect on water from past to present.

Paintings from the 18th to 20th centuries point to representations where water primarily appears as a visual element within the urban landscape. Contemporary works, including commissions through the museum’s International Artist Residency Program, engage with Istanbul’s relationship with water from multiple perspectives. Thus, the exhibition considers both the visual role water has played in art history and the new contexts it has acquired within contemporary artistic practices.

Exhibition Curators: Nilay Dursun, Ümit Mesci

Image:
Cansu Çakar, 1988
Golden Fleece, 2025 (detail)
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art Collection