Salt Beyoglu

Embark on a journey through the plant heritage of these lands with ‘Anatolian Plant Legacy’, an exhibition where art meets science. Featuring original works by 47 artists from across Turkey, the exhibition showcases 80 botanical illustrations—from ancient species like barley, wheat, olives, and grapes, to medicinal plants, local fruits and vegetables, and aromatic herbs. Together, they reveal Anatolia’s rich agricultural memory and its deep-rooted connection with nature. Each illustration is not only a visually striking work of art but also a scientifically accurate document. While aiming to raise awareness about the preservation of endangered cultivated plants and their wild relatives, the exhibition also offers a compelling visual response to urgent issues like the climate crisis, food security, and local production. Accompanying herbarium specimens, historical documents, and scientific publications provide further insight into the layered story of Anatolia’s plant life. The exhibition is on view at Salt Beyoğlu from May 16 to August 10.  

‘The Lives of Animals’ delves into the evolving dynamics between humans and animals—from shared existence to dominance—throughout history. Taking its name from South African writer J. M. Coetzee’s novel that questions anthropocentrism and reflects on empathy and compassion toward animals, the exhibition challenges social hierarchies that define human-animal relationships and opens up space for imagining alternative forms of coexistence. At the heart of the exhibition are works by German-Iraqi activist artist Lin May Saeed, who passed away in 2023 and is known for her poignant critiques of animal cruelty. Her pieces provide the intellectual foundation for a broader conversation, enriched by works from artists across Turkey and the world. The exhibition also includes an archival project focused on the street dogs of Istanbul. Featured artists include Apian, Noor Abuarafeh, Pierre Bismuth, melanie bonajo, Elen Braga, Sue Coe, Golden Snail Opera Collective (Isabelle Carbonell, Joelle Chevrier, Yen-Ling Tsai, Anna Tsing), Elmas Deniz, Simone Forti, Piero Giraldi, Laura Lima, Dafna Maimon, Britta Marakatt-Labba, David Maroto, Ad Minoliti, Füsun Onur, Jean Painlevé, Janis Rafa, Maria Roza, Necla Rüzgar, Lin May Saeed, and Uriburu. The exhibition is on view at SALT Beyoğlu from April 16 to August 10.