The Türkiye Textile Biennial has commenced its second edition, showcasing the deep connection between textiles and water through artistic interpretations. Curated by Nihat Özdal, this year’s theme, “Wave Fabric,” brings thought-provoking installations to historic venues across Antalya. The biennial remains open until 13 April 2025.
ANTALYA – Running from 22 February to 13 April, the biennial is hosted by the Gazipaşa District Governorship and takes place in historically significant locations in Gazipaşa and Alanya. Featured sites include the Ancient Cities of Selinus and Lamos, Yalan Dünya Cave, the Red Tower, Alanya Shipyard, and the Ancient City of Syedra.
“Textile industry uses 93 billion cubic metres of water annually”
Curator Nihat Özdal highlighted the environmental implications of textile production, stating: “93 billion cubic metres of water are used in the textile industry worldwide each year. It takes 10,000 cubic metres of water for a pair of jeans and 2,500 cubic metres for a cotton t-shirt. 20% of global water pollution comes from textiles, and approximately 100 billion new textile products are introduced to the market every year.”
“Sharing my art where it belongs is an incredible experience”
One of the featured artists, Özge Kahraman, a researcher at the Anatolian Speleology Group Association (ASPEG), explores the visual and structural properties of caves.
Reflecting on her first time exhibiting in a cave, she said: “Thanks to the biennial, this dream of mine came true, and my works met with the audience in ‘Yalan Dünya’ Cave. Until now, as someone who explored caves, I always looked from the outside, but this time the cave itself was part of the exhibition. It’s difficult to describe the atmosphere—sharing my art with viewers in the place where I feel it most belongs was an unforgettable experience.”
The biennial also features Thomas Jackson (USA) and Diana Orving (Sweden) among its participating artists.
Jackson shared his creative approach: “What I love to do is take human-made materials, place them in natural landscapes, and make them mimic nature,” while Orving described her artistic focus: “The themes I explore are based on transformation, movement, and the flow of nature.”
The Second Türkiye Textile Biennial will continue welcoming visitors until 13 April 2025.