An Alaylı Resistance in the Historic Rooms of Metrohan: The “Oda Oda” Exhibition

In the heart of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, the dim, history-scented corridors of Metrohan are currently hosting a very special resonance. The “Oda Oda” exhibition, realized as the 301st project of İBB Miras and İBB Kültür, opened its doors on 30 January and has taken art lovers on an extraordinary journey ever since.

Continuing until 29 March 2026, this exhibition gently pulls us away from the rigid, “academic” boundaries of art and invites us into the free, boundary-defying, and endlessly curious world of “alaylı” (self-taught) thinking. With each room in Metrohan promising a separate discovery, the exhibition lays bare how creation flourishes not only in schools but in the freest corners of the mind.

The show proves that art is not merely a career ladder or a commercial commodity; it is above all a powerful demonstration of how “learning to learn” and collective production can be truly transformative.

The Fragile Power of Alaylı Thinking

“Oda Oda” traces the path of self-directed learning and collective effort. Rather than celebrating the certainty of knowing, the exhibition honours the creative potential of remaining open to “not knowing” and having the courage to make mistakes. Sculptures and paintings distilled from the long years of shared production by six artists turn each room of Metrohan into a different question mark, a different experimental station.

Artists Featured in the Exhibition:

• Ali Yaycıoğlu
• Arzu Ertekin
• Emre Baloğlu
• Nilüfer Şatana
• Özlem Başer
• Pembe Tüzüner

The exhibition design, signed by Sevgi Karay and Deniz Coşkun, merges seamlessly with the texture of Metrohan itself, encouraging visitors not merely to look at the works but to reflect on how art multiplies and grows.

A Small Note: Being “alaylı” is not merely the absence of a diploma; it is the courage to follow curiosity wherever it leads. In every room of Metrohan you will feel a different shade of that courage.

Slipping away from the bustling spirit of Beyoğlu on a weekday to lose yourself in the quiet yet story-filled rooms of Metrohan could be a wonderful break.