Opening a new chapter in Istanbul’s cultural memory, the 18th Istanbul Biennial, curated by Christine Tohmé, unfolds under the title Three-Legged Cat. The first phase of the biennial centers on the concepts of “self-preservation” and “future possibilities,” creating a multifaceted space for reflection on resilience, coexistence, and rebirth in an era of global uncertainty.
Featuring 47 artists from over 30 countries, the biennial invites audiences to envision alternative futures through projects displayed across eight venues along the Beyoğlu and Karaköy axis. These spaces, some forgotten, others reborn, bear witness to the city’s past and transformation:
📍Galata Greek School
📍Zihni Han
📍Muradiye Han
📍Gallery 77
📍Karaköy Ice Cream Cone Factory
📍Meclis-i Mebusan 35
📍Garden of the Former French Orphanage
📍Elhamra Han
Three-Legged Cat explores the abundance within the seemingly incomplete, the strength within fragility, and the potential within imperfection. Christine Tohmé’s curatorial approach calls for a rethinking of survival strategies in both social and ecological contexts. The works on display, sometimes poetic, sometimes radical, question the relationships between humans, nature, technology, and memory.
The exhibitions are open to the public free of charge, every day except Monday, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Dates: On view through November 23, 2025
Curator: Christine Tohmé
Participants: 47 artists from over 30 countries
Venues: 8 exhibition spaces along the Beyoğlu–Karaköy axis
Three-Legged Cat is a call to the potential of what’s missing, the poetry of resilience, and the courage to reimagine the future.
