Artsy: An Art Lover’s Guide to Istanbul

Istanbul is a city of binaries: East and West, ornate and shabby, tranquil and chaotic. While the metropolis indeed harbors many contrasts, the clashes yield a unique cultural landscape. Istanbul is where Europe meets Asia, where many with conflicting opinions coexist, and where millions of stray cats find shelter.

Art thrives in this climate, though the government’s crackdown on free speech does cast a grim shadow on the industry. For example, Kübra Uzun, a beloved performance artist and musician, is a local fixture who has long had her finger on the pulse of the art scene. She co-founded the online queer network Through The Window with a mission to “provide a safe space for queer thinkers, artists, and nightlife workers to come together,” she said. After recent performances at the Barbican Center and ICA London, however, she moved to London in October, just like many queer artists who have relocated in search of safety.