İzmir Metropolitan Municipality hosts the International Textile Biennial curated by Nihat Özdal, showcasing artworks from 61 countries. The biennial, which started on 2 September and continues until 24 November, aims to convey important messages to the world, exploring themes of slowness, touch, and connection in textile art.
The exhibition will feature works exhibited at various venues, inviting visitors to experience the power and depth of textiles and promoting sustainable practices. It offers a unique opportunity to delve into textile art and understand the concepts of slowness and connection.
Speeches and workshops about the biennial are held at textile-related fairs hosted by İZFAŞ. Tunç Soyer“İzmir Textile Biennial aims to make a solid start that will give important messages to the world. İzmir Textile Biennial, where different aspects of fabric will be interpreted by artists, will also be a first for Turkey.”
The exhibition has been categorized into 3 themes and scattered across the biennial venues. According to the curator Nihat Özdal, visitors will be able to explore the works under the themes of Slowness and Time, Touch and Emotion, Connection and Sustainability. The discovery of 8-year-old weaving materials at Ulucak Höyük in İzmir has provided strong evidence that the city was the oldest textile centre in history. Fabrics hold a wealth of information, from the life of societies to their art, mythology, and belief systems. A person is born and buried in cloth, and it’s the only material that remains with us from birth to death. İzmir has a rich history of textile archaeology and continues to be a significant centre with its fairs and companies operating in this field today.
Textile has been an inseparable part of daily life since the existence of human beings. According to Nihat Özdal, textile art is an impressive combination of threads, fabrics, and stitches that carry deep meanings and aesthetic value. The slow textile movement, a philosophy that is rapidly spreading today, is focused on exploring the theme of slowness and connection in textile art. This biennial offers a unique opportunity to experience the power and depth of textile art.
The Textile Biennial aims to provide a platform for exploring the themes of slowness, touch, and connection in textile art. The theme for this year is “Slow down, Focus on the Touch!”. The artists’ handcrafted creations will showcase the power and meaning of textile art, reminding the audience of its beauty and value. The exhibition will also emphasize sustainable and ethical practices that align with the values of the slowness movement. By touching, observing, and contemplating the works on display, the audience will immerse themselves in the rich world of textiles. This biennial is an opportunity for anyone interested in textile art to deepen their understanding of the concepts of slowness and connection.
