PALIMPSEST Exhibition Opens in Istanbul: Bridging Past and Contemporary Art
Istanbul, January 13 – The PALIMPSEST International Art and Design Exhibition, organized under the leadership of Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University Faculty of Fine Arts, opened its doors on January 12 at Fişekhane Istanbul. The exhibition, bringing together national and international artists from various universities, draws attention with its interdisciplinary approach that combines traces of the past with contemporary productions.
Focusing on multi-layered production and sharing in the field of art and design, the PALIMPSEST International Art and Design Exhibition commenced on January 12, 2026, at Fişekhane Istanbul. The exhibition, managed by Dr. Duygu Sezgin and Dr. Tetiana Müsevitoglu from the Graphic Design Department of Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University Faculty of Fine Arts, offers an interdisciplinary art environment with the participation of artists from different universities. The exhibition will be open to visitors between January 12 and 18.
“Adding a new layer of meaning without disturbing the originality of an original structure”
The opening ceremony was attended by Zeytinburnu District Governor Dr. Adem Uslu, representatives of various institutions and organizations, members of the press, esteemed names from the academic community, and visitors. Speaking on the opening day, Dr. Duygu Sezgin stated, “As academics, we came together under a common roof, and during this process, each of us carried out both academic and artistic productions. The concept of Palimpsest, a word derived from Greek, refers to adding a new layer of meaning to an original structure without disturbing its originality. Especially in the Middle Ages, when access to writing and paper was limited, as seen in Egyptian papyri, this concept became concrete by partially erasing an existing text without completely destroying it and writing a new text over it.”
“Places and concepts that have undergone a palimpsest process through Istanbul were discussed”
“The palimpsest approach is not only found in writing; it is also encountered in literature, architecture, and different disciplines,” said Sezgin. “As academics in Istanbul and Valencia, we designed a cultural heritage journey based on this concept and planned our work under this roof. In Turkey, especially through Istanbul, places and concepts that have undergone a palimpsest process were discussed, while our academics in Spain also carried out similar studies.” Sezgin added, “The fact that our exhibition is located in Fişekhane Istanbul is also meaningful in this context. Fişekhane, established to strengthen the defense industry in the last period of the Ottoman Empire, functioned as a factory producing gunpowder and ammunition. This structure, which remained idle for many years, was later re-functionalized and has now become one of the important centers of art, culture, and social life. In this respect, Fişekhane is a palimpsest space in itself.”
Academics and artists from two countries participated
Sezgin continued, “In my work, I also discussed the transformation process of Fişekhane, that is, its palimpsestization. The exhibition features many different works focused on cultural heritage. Academics and artists from two countries, Turkey and Spain, are participating in the organization; a total of nine different universities are contributing to the exhibition with their productions in different disciplines.”
A wide range of art from oil painting to video
Dr. Tetiana Müsevitoglu said, “This exhibition is a project exhibition shaped around the concept of palimpsest and offers a very wide conceptual and production spectrum. Thirty-two artists are participating in the exhibition; artists from different countries are presenting their productions with different ideas and approaches. Visitors encounter oil paintings, print works, digital productions, and video works in the exhibition area. This diversity is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration. The exhibition offers a multi-layered production environment where traditional and contemporary techniques are used together. I hope this exhibition will be inspiring for all viewers. I especially hope that our new generation of students will watch these works and develop new techniques and new ideas, and use this inspiration in an innovative way in their own production processes.”
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