At our 533rd Art Meeting, we visit the studio of artist Tuğba Yüksel Öztopçu.

Born in Istanbul in 1979, Tuğba Yüksel Öztopçu completed her undergraduate studies in the Department of Art Education at Marmara University's Atatürk Faculty of Education and received her master's degree in Fine Arts Education from the Institute of Educational Sciences at the same university in 2021.

In her paintings, the artist combines figure and object in a simple and unified manner. Her works often feature female figures and simple objects from everyday life. Using a clear compositional structure and a simple narrative style, the artist creates a calm, orderly, and introspective atmosphere through these choices. This harmonious union between figure and object creates an emotional and serene space in her paintings that gives the viewer pause.

For her, painting is a silent medium of expression that reveals emotions. She continues her work as a journey that connects a simple world with her inner voice.

Tuğba Yüksel Öztopçu has held solo exhibitions "Kimsecik" (Istanbul, 2015) and "The Bus" (2012) in Paris. She has also participated in the group exhibition "YAW" in France (2020), the "Collectiv National" in Belgium (2017), and the group exhibitions held at the Staatliches Museums in Germany (Augsburg, Bocholt, Mannheim, Selb, and Solingen), which were extended to 2017. She continues her painting work in her studio in Istanbul.

Wednesday, November 26

12:00-13:00

Address: Göztepe Neighborhood, Çimenzar Street No: 36, Floor: 2/1, Kadıköy

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3huCh6uY8ZpNnfor9?g_st=ipc

At our 532nd Art Meeting, we are visiting Zihni Han as part of the 18th Istanbul Biennial.

Zihni Han is an integral part of Istanbul's historical fabric. Originally established in 1930 as the headquarters of a shipping company in Zonguldak, the building was rebuilt in 1973 at its current location in Tophane. Despite coastal transformations such as the Galataport project, this historic structure has preserved its originality. With its robust and functional architecture, it provides a raw platform for contemporary artworks, bringing together the city's economic past and contemporary art.

The space features works by 16 artists, including Abdullah Al Saadi, Willy Aractingi, Karimah Ashadu, Chen Ching-Yuan, Ian Davis, Celina Eceiza, Pélagie Gbaguidi, Rafik Greiss, Jasleen Kaur, Valentin Noujaïm, Marwan Rechmaoui, Stéphanie Saadé, Sara Sadik, Sohail Salem, Elif Saydam, and Selma Selman.

Some of the artists and their works that stand out include: Abdullah Al Saadi, who has been archiving his relationship with nature for over forty years through found objects, drawings, and notes, creating a personal inventory. Chen Ching-Yuan, with his works from his "Bricks and Timber" series, questions what endures after destruction. Karimah Ashadu explores themes of labor and remembrance with her film "Machine Boys" and her bronze sculpture "Wreath," which resembles tire tracks. Selma Selman, in her performance piece "Motherboards," critically examines modern economic systems by focusing on the extraction of precious metals from discarded electronics.

Wednesday, November 19

12:00-1:00 PM

Address: Zihni Han, Kemankeş Karamustafapaşa Neighborhood, Tophane İskele Street No:12 Karaköy

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kqECwWEWuEivg7PE8?g_st=ipc

At our 531st Art Meeting, we're visiting the Historic Cone Factory as part of the 18th Istanbul Biennial.

As we enter the Historic Cone Factory, one of the impressive venues of the Istanbul Biennial, its graffiti-adorned raw brick facade and heavy iron gates stand out. Located in the backstreets of Karaköy, in an area experiencing rapid gentrification, this two-story, high-ceilinged building was once an ice cream cone manufacturing workshop. Over time, it hosted artisan markets and exhibitions, and even served as a music band's studio and concert venue. Today, it continues to serve as a space for culture and interaction. The Biennial showcases the work of two artists who have forged a deep connection with the industrial fabric of this historic factory.

Doruntina Kastrati's installation "A Horn That Swallows Songs" (2025) offers a close look at the invisible labor, particularly that of women, in Istanbul's Turkish delight factories. The work, spread across two rooms, creates an immersive environment evoking the conditions of a factory floor, the endless workload, and repetitive rhythms. Ultrasonic speakers and transducers placed on the floor emit low-frequency vibrations that convey a jarring physical sensation to the viewer.

Claudia Pagès Rabal's "Five Towers of Defense" (2025) explores fractured perceptions of time, militarization, and precariousness on physical and social scales. The installation is centered around a 34-minute film titled "Night of the Five Towers of Defense." Projected from the ceiling and shot in 360 degrees, we see four performance artists performing a slow-paced choreography imbued with both emotional and military precision. The film's narrative, delivered in Catalan, Spanish, and English, allows us to hear the languages ​​representing the conquests of Andalusian history together.

Wednesday, November 12

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Address: Historical Cone Factory, Kemankeş Karamustafapaşa Neighborhood, Murakıp Sokak No: 12, Karaköy, Beyoğlu

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zXPjh2EXuNGdijVg7?g_st=ipc

At our 530th Art Meeting, we're visiting Muradiye Han as part of the 18th Istanbul Biennial.

Muradiye Han, one of the most striking venues of the 18th Istanbul Biennial, is a historic building located on Galata Şarap İskelesi Street in Beyoğlu. Designed in 1914 by renowned Turkish architect M. Vedad Tek as a commercial building under the name "Sabit Bey Han." Used as the "Muradiye Police Station" by French soldiers during the occupation of Istanbul, the building underwent extensive restoration in 2021 under the leadership of architect Han Tümertekin, achieving its current state.

Venezuan artist Ana Alenso's work "What the Mine Gives, the Mine Takes" is being exhibited at Muradiye Han as part of the Biennial. In this 2020 work, the artist explores the environmental destruction and social consequences caused by illegal gold mining in the Venezuelan Amazon. It explores the government's diversion of precious mineral reserves during the 2014-2016 oil crisis, the pollution caused by mercury used in this process, and the impacts on the lives of miners and indigenous communities. The work offers a powerful critique of the devastating effects of natural resource exploitation on both the environment and humans.

Wednesday, November 5

12:00-13:00

Address: Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Galata Wine Pier Street No:10, Beyoğlu

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VHSUrugQABdysHNg6?g_st=ipc

 We're visiting Artweeks Akaretler for our 529th Art Meeting.

After experiencing The Ritz-Carlton, where 15 young artists from the Art for Good Association are also taking part, this week we're heading to Akaretler Row Houses. This art bridge between the two venues offers a truly artistic journey through the city's diverse landscape.

Unlike The Ritz-Carlton's vertical gallery offerings, Akaretler invites us to a more organic and exploratory art experience, extending onto the streets. Within this historical fabric, each building tells a different story. Solo exhibitions, independent projects by young and innovative artists, and carefully selected works from institutional collections will be the main characters of this open-air art district.

Wandering among Akaretler's 150-year-old historic stone buildings, you'll encounter established galleries such as Mine Art Gallery, Sanatorium, and Galeri Siyah Beyaz. You'll discover current works from dynamic galleries like MERKUR, Öktem Aykut, and Ambidexter, and encounter selections from Pi Artworks and x-istin. Special projects from Bülent Eczacıbaşı and Nihat Odabaşı also await us. https://gazeteoksijen.com/turkiye/artweeks-istanbul-12-edisyonu-ile-sanati-sehrin-iki-farkli-noktasina-tasiyor-252842

Wednesday, October 22

12:00-1:00

Address: Vişnezade, Süleyman Seba Street No:39, Beşiktaş

https://maps.app.goo.gl/x2AHyWWUsCHNtuft9?g_st=ipc

Then, in the xTalks Business × Art series we held as part of Artweeks Akaretler, we discuss concepts that are transforming the world from the perspectives of businesspeople and artists.

One of this year's special sessions, "MERAK" (CURIOUS ART), will feature Ahu Orakçıoğlu, İpek Özmen Develi, and Zehra Öney on stage. Moderated by our Association President Kamuran Selin Bozkurt, we will host a panel featuring Ahu Orakçıoğlu, İpek Özmen Develi, and Zehra Öney.

Panel details:

Date: Wednesday, October 22

Time: 5:00 PM

Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Block B, Floor 1 (Art for Good Association)

At our 528th Art Meeting, we're visiting the 12th Artweeks, which includes the Art for Good Association.

The Art for Good Association, which always prioritizes the healing and unifying power of art, has undertaken another meaningful project by participating in the 12th Artweeks Istanbul. The event, brought to life by Bilgili Holding's vision, will be held at Akaretler Sıraevler and The Ritz-Carlton Residences Istanbul from October 15–26.

The association's exhibition, curated by me, will open to the public on Wednesday at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Block B, on Floor -1. This special selection adopts an inclusive approach, featuring artists from our association as well as independent artists. Bringing together 53 works by 15 artists, the exhibition reinterprets ancient forms of representation, such as portraits and landscapes, through Foucault's concept of "subjectification."

The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge until October 26th, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, on the -1st floor of The Ritz-Carlton Residences.

Artists featured in the exhibition:

Ahmet Hamdi Başsöz, Asya Nur Hasgül, Barışcan Seval, Elif Ece Kazan, Emir Furkan Tekkalmaz, Erman Gürcüm, Esra Mengülerek, Fatih Özkan, Kardelen Erken, Melike Melena, Melisa Geçalp, Merve Topuz, Modilda, Nida Erdoğan, Rabia Yıldırım

Wednesday, October 15th

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Preview)

Address: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Istanbul (Fulya entrance), Block B, -1st Floor

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tk9aX675zNnsxWzG7?g_st=ipc