The second Türkiye Textile Biennial has commenced, offering a platform for artists to explore the relationship between textiles and water. Curated by Nihat Özdal, this year’s theme, “Wave Fabric,” brings a thought-provoking perspective to historic venues across Antalya. The event is open to visitors until 13 April 2025.
ANTALYA – Taking place from 22 February to 13 April, the biennial is supported by the Gazipaşa District Governorship and features exhibitions in key historic sites across Gazipaşa and Alanya, including 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 addressed the textile sector’s impact on water resources, 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 is a specialist in cave research through her work with the Anatolian Speleology Group Association (ASPEG).
Exhibiting her work in a cave for the first time, she described her experience: “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.”
Other artists featured include Thomas Jackson from the USA and Swedish textile artist Diana Orving.
Jackson explained his artistic approach: “What I love to do is take human-made materials, place them in natural landscapes, and make them mimic nature,” while Orving commented: “The themes I explore are based on transformation, movement, and the flow of nature.”
The Second Türkiye Textile Biennial remains open until 13 April 2025.
