Seeds Brought by the Poyraz: Neslihan Yetişkin and “Garden of Belonging” in Bozcaada

When September settles over Bozcaada, the tone of the wind shifts; as the grape harvest approaches with a sweet tiredness, a melancholic yet peaceful serenity spreads across the island’s narrow streets and stone walls. Right in this seasonal transformation, an exhibition sprouting in Itırlı Bahçe perfectly suits the deep-rooted and free spirit of our island, touching soil and memory directly.

Ecological artist Neslihan Yetişkin takes us on a contemplative journey within the island’s bounty with her new solo exhibition titled “Garden of Belonging,” opening at Bozcaada Itırlı Bahçe between September 1 and 15, 2026.

Seeds Carried by the Wind, Memory Carried Within Us

Seeds do not stay where they were born; drifting with the poyraz, with water, or on a bird’s wing, they take root anew in lands unknown to them. Humans are just like this; even if they leave behind the place where they were born and raised, they always carry their memory, their past, and their roots wherever they go.

Yetişkin draws a serene parallel between how plants cling to life in different geographies and humanity’s search for relocation, home-making, and belonging. In this selection exhibited in the island’s atmosphere, belonging is addressed not as a fixed spot on a map, but as a living, continuously changing process built with care over time.

From Black Carrot to Oak Acorn: Ancient Recipes of Anatolia

The artist’s production process is at least as organic as the conceptual background of the works. Completely removing chemical dyes from her life following an allergic condition she experienced, Yetişkin transformed her artistic practice by researching Anatolia’s ancient natural dye recipes.

Linen fabrics and raw surfaces are colored with beeswax batik techniques, black carrot, oak acorn, rust, and natural pigments. What’s more, these dyes fade and alter over time, incorporating nature’s own temporality into the canvas. For Neslihan Yetişkin, who opened her very first solo exhibition years ago at the Rengigül Art Gallery on the island, this gathering at Itırlı Bahçe signifies a return of sorts to her own garden of belonging.

If your path leads to our island in early September, you can witness how these natural colors and fabrics speak with the wind in the cool shade of Itırlı Bahçe.