What do you say to welcoming the final days of 2025 and the first mornings of 2026 with a “manifesto of grandeur” in Dolapdere, where Istanbul’s art pulse beats the fastest? This week on Apartment No: 26’s route, there’s an elegant objection to the superficiality of the digital age, drawn from the depths of history.
Lal Batman’s new solo exhibition “The Grand Excess” at PILEVNELI Dolapdere opened its doors on December 17. Running until January 17, 2026, this show is a unique stop for those wanting to shake off the New Year’s haze and view the noisy glitter of the 21st century from a different window.
The Truth of the Past, the Glitter of Today
In today’s world, filled with social media-driven artificial shines, what have the concepts of “elegance” and “grandeur” turned into? As Lal Batman pursues this question, she contrasts today’s fleeting glitters with the enduring and authentic elegance of the past. The artist’s compositions are not merely aesthetic visual feasts; they present scenes where jewels and textiles gathered from around the world are revived as “fragments of historical memory.”
Details That Make the Exhibition Unforgettable:
Harmony of Differences: The artist seamlessly blends rich textures from different cultures and periods, reminding us that cultural diversity and history always have a place in our aesthetic pursuits.
An Aesthetic Manifesto: The works in the exhibition are a visual rebellion advocating that differences are not division but a way of coexisting. This combination invites the viewer to confront themselves in today’s mirror.
For Lal Batman, “true grandeur” is not a show; on the contrary, it is a timeless symbol of cultural dialogue, resilience, and harmony. Integrated with Dolapdere’s industrial atmosphere and Pilevneli’s architecture, this exhibition calls you to discover the order within chaos and the bridge history extends to the present.
