Summit of Art in Istanbul: 'Lost Alphabet' Exhibition Opened

Artist Ahmet Güneştekin's "Lost Alphabet Exhibition", inspired by the late Yaşar Kemal, the plane tree of Turkish literature, which took 2 years to prepare and 30 days to install, opened at Artİstanbul Feshane. The exhibition, which can be visited free of charge between January 17 and July 20, 2025, was opened by the Union of Turkish Municipalities (TBB) and the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM). Ekrem İmamoğlu, Dr. Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu and Güneştekin participated. The opening, which brought together many famous names from the world of art and politics, featured speeches from IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, exhibition curator Cristoph Tannert, Güneştekin and İmamoğlu.

“ARTİSTANBUL FESHANE FITS ISTANBUL VERY WELL”

Stating that Artİstanbul Feshane, which hosted the exhibition, was very suitable for Istanbul, İmamoğlu said, “This place used to host very interesting moments. Sometimes it was for fellow countrymen’s days, sometimes for weddings, associations and it was a bit chaotic. But now, with the reconstruction of an industrial facility that appeals to the whole world and dates back to the 19th century, it has turned into a magnificent work. Afterwards, just to the east of this, we are adding another magnificent area to this area by reconstructing the project of another industrial facility with traces from the 19th century.” Emphasizing that they really want the Golden Horn to become one of the most influential art basins in the world with the completed and ongoing restoration of the Haliç Shipyard, İmamoğlu emphasized that they are trying to spread this understanding throughout the city.

“WHEN WE PREVENT EVIL FROM THIS CITY AND ENSURE THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS PROTECTED…”

“Fatih, the essence of Istanbul, Eyüpsultan on one side and historical Pera, namely Beyoğlu when you turn to the other side… It is a magnificent geography,” said İmamoğlu, “When it gets the value it deserves, when we cleanse some of the evils we have done to this part of Istanbul over time and after this process, when we prevent evil from being done to this city and ensure that every individual is a guardian, we want to provide an environment that is not described as ‘unique in the world’ in words, but when you actually come and see it, you will say ‘this is exactly the place for it’ very quickly to our Istanbul and all of Turkey.” İmamoğlu cited the structures they brought to the city such as the Museum Gazhane, Çubuklu Silos, Cendere Art Museum and Bulgur Palas, as well as the restorations of Anadolu Hisar and the land walls as examples of this understanding.

“I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW PEOPLE COMING TO THE MODA PIER IN FLOORS”

İmamoğlu, who stated that they experienced the same process during the Moda Pier restoration, said, “I followed with astonishment the bad state of the heritage we inherited, the sudden appearance of the structure like a trinket, which had been used for food, drink, music halls for a while, this and that; and the interest in its promotion. I had not been able to visit it on the opening day. When we went there thinking, ‘Let’s go during the quietest hour during the week. There is no one when it first opens in the morning’, I was shocked when I saw people flocking there. How much our people long for recovery. We experienced the extraordinary effect of the longing and passion, the ownership and taking ownership of even a tiny building that has been restored. And this city and this country really need to recover, be revived, be restored, understand their feelings, repair them, feel each other, inspire each other, and heal each other in every way.”

“I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF AN IMPRESSIVE MEETING”

Stating that he believes that the Güneştekin Lost Alphabet Exhibition will also cause the same sense of healing in visitors, İmamoğlu said:

“In this context, I am very proud to be a part of a culture and art event that heals us, a truly impressive meeting for Turkey, for Turkey’s art history, and for international art. I am happy. Of course, I always want to be happy. But in our country, with so many empty issues, so many sad, hurtful, if I may say so, creative elements that we produce and create on our own, in this beautiful country where there are millions of creative and good-willed people, in this beautiful heavenly homeland where every individual is valuable and we should be struggling for every individual to live with pleasure, some efforts that try to upset each other, pull each other down, and stop those who want to run, of course make our lives a little difficult. It deeply saddens us. Sometimes this can hit us in the face or cause us to bite our tongues a little bit and speak. But I still just want to make this reminder and live this happiness, the peace that the art here gives, the depth that art gives and its messages, without going into detail.”

INVITED ISTANBUL PEOPLE TO THE EXHIBITION: “LET ISTANBUL GROW, LET Türkiye GROW”

“Ahmet Güneştekin, while whispering here, expressed that Yaşar Kemal, whom he paired with saying “May he live forever in spirit”, should be with us a moment ago. Hopefully, we will experience and feel this magnificent duet while traveling together. Our concern is to think together, to produce together. To open up spaces for each other, to grow together. We want to act with this mind that I have expressed, not with the mind that separates, distances each other, favors each other and others, in this country, let Istanbul grow, let Turkey grow… Art is a valuable field that can serve as a basis for this unity and free thought, common feelings and goals. In this respect, I would like to thank Mr. Ahmet Güneştekin and everyone who contributed to the Kayıp Alphabet Exhibition. And I invite all my fellow Istanbulites to the Kayıp Alphabet Exhibition. Definitely come and meet Ahmet Güneştekin and Yaşar Kemal at Feshane.”