In the heart of the Mediterranean, we embark on a journey from the narrow streets of Girne into the deep waters of contemporary art. The Art Rooms Gallery in Girne, which recently opened its doors to great acclaim, is hosting the group exhibition titled “Soil & Water: Mediterranean Crossing,” curated by Başak Şenova. This international project reinterprets ecological crises and collective memory through the language of art, presenting soil and water not merely as consumable natural resources, but as political and cultural “actors” that hold, transform, and bear within themselves time, ideology, and history.
An Ecological Bridge from South Africa to the Mediterranean
The exhibition is actually part of a much broader, ongoing international research project. Initiated by Prof. Johan Thom (University of Pretoria) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Başak Şenova (University of Applied Arts Vienna) as a response to the pollution of underground waters in South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind, the project now merges with the historical and political dynamics of the Mediterranean. Rather than merely “showing” environmental disasters, the exhibition questions how art can generate critical thought and a sense of urgency in response to these realities, holding up a mirror to the Mediterranean basin that has been shaped for centuries by conflict and extraction.
Art Extending from Gallery Walls to Campus
Realised in collaboration with Arkın Creative Arts and Design University (ARUCAD), the exhibition transcends the boundaries of the gallery and extends into the university campus. South African artist Ledelle Moe’s monumental-scale sculpture, produced in Cyprus in December, is installed on the campus grounds, while the video documentation and drawings of its creation process are presented to visitors at Art Rooms. This approach establishes a living dialogue between the gallery and the academic space, demonstrating how art can integrate with education and public life.
The Archive of “Sediment” and the Fragility of the Future
The exhibition does not only feature new works; it also hosts the accumulation of the past. The archive of the “Sediment” exhibition, held in Graz in 2024–2025, has been brought to Girne as part of this selection. Additionally, the launch of the “Sediment” book—published by ARUCAD Press and examining socio-political forces that impact the environment—takes place during this period. Nearly thirty international artists’ works in sculpture, performance, and research-based practices invite viewers to question their own relationship with their surroundings through material traces that say “I was here.”
Some of the Artists in the Exhibition
Soil & Water: Atul Bhalla, Ebru Kurbak, Hera Büyüktaşcıyan, Johan Thom, Ledelle Moe, Mithu Sen, Robin Rhode, Rojda Tuğrul, and others.
Sediment (Archive): Aylin Kızıl, Barbara Schmid, Hristina Ivanoska, Leyla Keskin, Rozelin Akgün, Rojda Tuğrul.
These artistic testimonies, filtered from the salty waters and history-laden soils of the Mediterranean, await visitors until 17 February.
