Turkey 2025

Title: Grounded
Commissioner: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye
Curators: Ceren Erdem and Bilge Kalfa
Exhibitors: Hüseyin Aksoy, Michael Akstaller, E. Füsun Alioğlu & Senem Akçay, Ali Mahmut Demirel, Sinem Dişli, Yelda Gin, Ali Miharbi, Özgül Öztürk, Serkan Taycan, Orkan Telhan, Bire-Pan, Common Action Walls, Herkes İçin Mimarlık & Poçolana Works, Mono Earth, Ozruh, Rec II, ReYard House, Solidified, Yalın Architects

Grounded approaches soil as a carrier of ecological and cultural memory, presenting it as an ecosystem that embodies natural intelligence and serves as a living archive and supportive model. The exhibition emphasises that this often-overlooked element provides crucial insights into past civilizations and ecological systems, and highlights the potential for coexistence with nature.

With a blend of innovative research and traditional soil construction techniques, Grounded fosters an interdisciplinary narrative that broadens global understanding and encourages meaningful dialogue. It brings together visions of the future that equally value life above and below the soil, therefore challenging us to consider the profound impacts of human activities – such as construction, mining and industrial development – on the surface and in the deeper layers of the earth. The exhibition invites reflection on the often-hidden consequences of these activities, including the loss of biodiversity and the erasure of cultural histories.

Inspired by Turkey’s rich heritage, particularly archaeological sites such as Göbeklitepe, the project highlights the importance of integrating traditional practices that illustrate ecological understanding with modern sustainable architectural approaches. This vision seeks to honour both environmental and cultural legacies.