The myth of Adam and Eve, one of humanity’s oldest narratives, continues to resonate in our collective subconscious with its core themes of knowledge, desire, prohibition, and existence. More than just a creation story, it symbolizes rebellion, curiosity, and free thought, remaining a powerful source of inspiration for artists across the ages.
Maçka Art Gallery rekindles this ancient tale in today’s world. The group exhibition The Fruit of the Forbidden Tree, on view from September 16 to November 1, 2025, takes the concept of “beginnings” as an archetype, bringing together artists’ mythological, political, individual, and societal interpretations.
The exhibition revolves around the seductive power of knowledge, the generative energy of desire, and the transformative impact of the forbidden. Each artist reimagines the Adam and Eve story not merely as a narrative of “original sin” but as a metaphor for humanity’s perpetual potential for rebirth. The exhibition poses a central question to its viewers:
“How can we reimagine a beginning?”
Featuring works by artists from diverse disciplines—Arzu Eş, Alkor, Defne Parman, Dilara Altınkepçe, Gönül Nuhoğlu, Güçlü Polat, Gülçin Çınar, Mengü Ertel, Murat Germen, Ömür Tököz, Selin Arselin, Serhat Kiraz, Sinan Tuncay, Studio Pinprick, and Tunç Ali Çam—this selection offers a contemporary reading of mythology’s timeless themes through the language of modern art.
With graphic design by Hamit Demirel, the exhibition honors Maçka Art Gallery’s storied legacy, inviting viewers on a journey that is both historical and conceptual. The cost of knowledge, the limits of desire, and the fine line between prohibition and freedom are reexamined in this space.
📍 Maçka Art Gallery
🗓️ On view through November 1, 2025
The Fruit of the Forbidden Tree leaves a contemporary echo of humanity’s eternal journey toward knowledge, freedom, and creation.
