The Türkiye Textile Biennial has returned for its second edition, bringing international artists together in historic venues across Antalya. Curated by Nihat Özdal, this year’s theme, “Wave Fabric,” examines the complex connection between textiles and water. The event is open to visitors until 13 April 2025.
Running from 22 February to 13 April, the biennial is hosted by the Gazipaşa District Governorship and takes place in historical sites across Gazipaşa and Alanya. The exhibition spans key locations such as 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 immense water consumption of the textile industry, 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 participating artists is Özge Kahraman, a researcher with the Anatolian Speleology Group Association (ASPEG), who focuses on the artistic and structural significance of caves.
Speaking about her first experience exhibiting in a cave, she 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.”
Also featured in the biennial are Thomas Jackson (USA) and Diana Orving (Sweden).
Jackson described his approach: “What I love to do is take human-made materials, place them in natural landscapes, and make them mimic nature,” while Orving added: “The themes I explore are based on transformation, movement, and the flow of nature.”
The Second Türkiye Textile Biennial will remain open to visitors until 13 April 2025.