Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. I can hardly believe it’s the beginning of March and ten weeks since our little firecracker burst onto the scene. The last two months have whizzed by in an absolute blur of smiles, snuggles, sleepless nights and evening wailing sessions but it’s been one of the most rewarding if challenging times of my life, full of highs and lows and so, so many learnings. I’m only now beginning to truly appreciate the reality of the motherhood juggle so I’ll be spoiling mine rotten this Mother’s Day (10 March). Present-wise I’m currently torn between this pair of White Company cotton silk trousers and this gorgeous book about Yves Saint Laurent’s art and home.
Before that though is International Women’s Day (8 March). Last year, I interviewed five inspiring women transforming the Istanbul art scene but as I’ll be grounded at home this year with my tiny in tow I’ll be tuning into the ‘Power of Women’, a conversation between Tracey Emin and Katy Hessel of The Great Women Artists. How will you be spending the day?
Below you’ll find my monthly edit of art, design & travel bits that have caught my eye. If you enjoy The Istanbulist, please do tell me what you’d like to see more of via DM. I’d also love it if you’d share it with your friends, or hit the like button in the banner above.
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Love Lucy Xx
ART STUFF
The Turkey Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
For the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale (20 April — 24 November 2024), the Turkey Pavilion will present Hollow and Broken: A State of the World, a new sculptural installation by Gülsün Karamustafa, one of the country’s most influential and outspoken artists. Made of disparate found materials, it invites viewers to reflect on issues such as war, migration and religious conflict.
‘What I am dealing with,’ Karamustafa says of the work, ‘is the state of a world hollowed out to the core by wars, earthquakes, migration and nuclear peril unleashed at every turn, threatening humankind while nature is ceaselessly scathed and the environment made sick.’ I’m looking forward to digging a little deeper into this.
TEFAF Maastricht
TEFAF Maastricht (9 — 14 March 2024) is the king of art fairs. Spanning 7,000 years of art history, it brings together the finest art, design and antiques galleries as well as collectors, curators and art enthusiasts from around the world. Here visitors expect to see the best of the best on the market so you can imagine how thrilled I was to contribute to the fair’s print magazine.
I wrote about the recent discovery of an extraordinary Baroque chess set by Paul Heermann, which now resides in the Green Vault in Dresden, and interviewed the renowned Old Master Drawings collector Katrin Bellinger and the contemporary African art collector Tunji Akintokun about their collecting journeys so far. Sadly I am unable to attend this year’s fair but I will be keeping a beady eye on sales, trends and fair activity.
An exhibition to scope out
Refik Anadol is one of Turkey’s best known artists. Blending art and machine intelligence, he creates AI-generated pieces and large-scale public installations that envelop viewers in immersive environments. His first solo show in the UK (until 7 April 2024) presents three of his latest projects, including Living Archive: Large Nature Model, a new commission adapted specially for Serpentine North that wraps the gallery walls in AI generated images inspired by data of flora, fungi and fauna from over 16 rainforest locations globally. His visuals are certainly impressive but is there substance beneath? You tell me.
DESIGN BITS
Gorgeous textiles
The V&A’s collection of textiles and fashion is mind-blowing. It includes more than 75,000 objects or sets of objects that span a period of more than 5,000 years, from Predynastic Egypt to the present day. It’s no surprise then that the Threads of India Collection — an evocative capsule collection of fabrics designed in collaboration with Sofas & Stuff — is to die for.
Inspired by the magnificent array of South Asian objects housed in the V&A, each design reveals a different aspect of India’s artistic legacy, from intricate weaves to vibrant dyes. I’m rather taken by Mughal Arbour, a reimagined 18th-century design which takes inspiration from the Mughal motif of a flowering tree enclosed in an arch. I’d love a sofa upholstered in this gorgeous fabric in my forever home.
A fabulous new ceramics collaboration
Since moving to Istanbul, I’ve become obsessed with all things ceramic. My collection of decorative plates, pots and cups grows bigger by the day. But there’s always room for more…Enter the Breakwater collection by Turner Contemporary and Rye Pottery. Initially conceived by Wally Cole and completed by Rye Pottery’s current creative director Josh Cole and illustrator Laura Gill, the abstract design in cool grey tones is inspired by the pebbled beaches and weathered wooden posts common to southern beaches in England.
The pattern adorns a series of table lamps, pots and vases which are sold exclusively at the Turner Contemporary in Margate. The collection complements Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950-1970, which opened at Turner Contemporary in February.
Introducing Totzee
For the first eight weeks of her life, my tiny tot lived in baby grows. And no, not the practical zip ones that I’ve only just discovered, but those fiddly popper ones that make you want to tear your hair out at 3am. It was only when one of my best friends asked if she ever wore actual clothes that I realised this was not the norm.
So I began to hunt for cute little tops and trews and soon came across Totzee, an affordable yet stylish Turkish brand specialising in organic hand-knitted baby clothes. Made by mothers for mothers, the designs are simple, practical and absolutely adorable. I want it all but I’m particularly taken by this pair of indigo salopettes and this lavender pink bodysuit. They also do a line of seriously cute booties.
A new coffee spot in Beyoglu
You can’t move for coffee shops in Istanbul. It’s one of my favourite things about the city. Among the new kids on the block is Petra Pera, a sleek spot in the heart of buzzing Beyoglu. Located in the revamped Art Nouveau Bilsar Building, it boasts an interior crafted from stainless steel, walnut, brick, and cork as well as a concept store and beautifully curated magazine library. Conceived by the Istanbul-based interior design company Sanayi313, it’s a great place to grab a coffee while on the hoof.
TRAVEL THINGS
Six Senses Kocatas Mansions
There is something deliciously spoiling about a staycation. It presents an opportunity to see your home city in a new light, while also escaping the stresses of your day-to-day. The bonus? No arduous travel is involved. But holidaying at home or away with a six-week-old bub is another matter altogether. After weighing up all the pros and cons we decided to take the plunge during Olly’s paternity leave and I am so glad we did. It was not without its stresses but the change of scene did us the world of good.
We treated ourselves to a night in the Six Senses Kocatas Mansions and I think it might well be my favourite hotel in Turkey….because, well, the bedrooms are divine, with super comfy beds, lofty ceilings, heavenly marble bathrooms and furnishings that pay homage to the building’s Ottoman heritage. As is the hilltop spa which boasts his and hers hammams, a gym, relaxation rooms and a gorgeous indoor pool with a spectacular view across the Bosphorus. The staff were notably friendly (especially since we arrived with screaming tot in tow — I know, we are now those people), the food was delicious and the principal courtyard has actual trees and flowers, a rare sight in Istanbul.
The only snag is the location: which is perfect for locals wanting to explore a new neighbourhood but a tad far north for first-timers looking to be in the thick of it. That said, there’s a lot of merit staying away from the hustle and bustle as Istanbul can quickly feel hectic and overwhelming. I’m dreaming of checking back in already.
A new cookbook for your kitchen
Food can transport you to far off lands and bring people together like nothing else can. I absolutely love cooking for friends and family (though I admit to rustling up little more than beans on toast in recent weeks) and have really enjoyed turning my hand to a new cuisine since moving to Turkey. My greatest discovery is that Turkish food is far more than pide, manti and shish kebabs as is wonderfully proved by this cookbook from celebrity chef Musa Dagdeviren. Kudos to anyone who attempts Baklava from scratch.
Brown’s Art Walks
Throughout March, April and May, Brown’s Hotel in London is running a series of art walks hosted by the renowned art critic and Artistic Director of Maddox Gallery, Maeve Doyle. She’ll guide you around her favourite creative spaces in Mayfair, whilst also offering valuable insights into the London art scene. The tour also includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine at Charlie’s restaurant! Sign me up.
And finally…follow me on Instagram for more art, design & travel inspo…