The Türkiye Textile Biennial has returned for its second edition, showcasing a diverse range of artwork in historic settings across Antalya. Under the curation of Nihat Özdal, this year’s theme “Wave Fabric” focuses on the relationship between textiles and water. The event is open to visitors until 13 April 2025.
Taking place from 22 February to 13 April, the biennial is organised by the Gazipaşa District Governorship and is hosted in remarkable historical sites in Gazipaşa and Alanya. These locations 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 stressed the environmental impact 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”
Among the featured artists, Özge Kahraman studies cave formations as part of the Anatolian Speleology Group Association (ASPEG). This marks the first time she has exhibited her work in a cave environment.
Expressing her joy, Kahraman shared: “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 works from Thomas Jackson (USA) and Diana Orving (Sweden).
Jackson reflected: “What I love to do is take human-made materials, place them in natural landscapes, and make them mimic nature,” while Orving shared: “The themes I explore are based on transformation, movement, and the flow of nature.”
The Second Türkiye Textile Biennial will welcome visitors until 13 April 2025.
