After comprehensive restoration and repurposing efforts by İBB Heritage, ArtIstanbul Feshane has become one of Istanbul’s largest public cultural and arts venues. Over the next six months, it will host Ahmet Güneştekin’s interdisciplinary exhibition, Lost Alphabet, curated by Christoph Tannert. The exhibition brings together memory and migration objects, sounds, and images in a compelling dialogue.
During the opening, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu praised ArtIstanbul Feshane as a fitting addition to the city and emphasized the transformative power of art:
“Our people are so eager for healing,” said İmamoğlu. “I am deeply proud to be part of this cultural and artistic event, which is a significant meeting point not only for Turkey’s art history but also for international art. I believe this exhibition, inspired by the great Turkish literary figure Yaşar Kemal, will evoke a sense of healing in its visitors.”
He continued:
“Ahmet Güneştekin honors Yaşar Kemal, who spiritually and eternally lives on, by whispering his legacy to us here. I hope we all feel and experience this magnificent duet as we explore the exhibition together. Our goal is to think, create, and grow together—not to divide or favor one over another. We aim for Istanbul and Turkey to flourish with unity, collaboration, and the freedom of thought, and art is a precious space for fostering these ideals. I thank Ahmet Güneştekin and everyone who contributed to Lost Alphabet. I invite all Istanbul residents to visit the exhibition. Come to Feshane and connect with Ahmet Güneştekin and Yaşar Kemal.”
A Monumental Effort
Featuring nearly 350 sculptures, installations, videos, ceramics, and other works across various disciplines, the preparation for Lost Alphabet took two years, while its setup required 30 days. Güneştekin shared his dedication to the project:
“I worked 16-18 hours a day with only 4 hours of sleep, often starting my day at 3 a.m. I worked in different studios each week, involving nearly 200 people from various fields—ironworkers, carpenters, ceramic artisans, and many more. This is one of the most significant exhibitions of my life, and I personally contributed to every stage, from design to execution.”
Themes and Artistic Approach
The exhibition explores themes of displacement and memory through installations that feature objects burdened with the memories of people forced to alter their geographies. These works confront viewers with the painful reconciliations of personal and collective pasts. Additionally, the exhibition includes video and sound pieces with micro-rhythmic structures that expand the scope of historical narratives.
Güneştekin’s multidimensional works incorporate found objects, transforming their micro-elements to create subjective encounters. His sculptural pieces crafted with stone and metal formations, mythologically inspired paintings, ceramic creations, and patchwork artworks as tactile cultural artifacts also feature prominently.
In the Witnesses of Millennia section, co-curated by Hasan Mert Kaya, Güneştekin combines his canvas and dimensional works with bronze patterns. Referencing coins from Anatolia’s 3,000-year cultural history, this section examines the interplay between fiction and truth.
Through objects like shoes, street signs, gas masks, scarves, refrigerators, and bicycles—symbols of cyclical decay—Güneştekin traces the remnants of the past.
Ahmet Güneştekin’s Lost Alphabet exhibition is free to visit at ArtIstanbul Feshane until July 20.
