Yunus Emre InstituteThe Türkiye Pavilion opened on June 5, 2025 at the London Design Biennale 2025, offering visitors a multisensory exploration of Istanbul’s layered identity through an immersive new installation by interdisciplinary artist Halise Karakaya.
Titled Emotional Reflections: The Soul of Seven Horizons, the installation is on view at Somerset House from June 5 to 29. Drawing inspiration from Istanbul’s iconic seven hills, Karakaya’s work blends sculpture, sound, scent, and light to create an environment that invites both emotional reflection and cultural engagement.
At the heart of the pavilion are seven CNC-cut aluminium sculptures layered over beds of Turkish coffee grounds—an homage to the tactile and aromatic elements of Istanbul’s daily rituals. Above them, fifteen sculptural forms made from Karakaya’s proprietary materials react in real-time to an ambient soundscape of the Bosphorus, including ferry horns, seabirds, and lapping waves. The integrated lighting system responds dynamically to sound intensity, transforming the installation into a constantly evolving sensory experience.
The project is curated by Alinda Kring, a London-based curator known for her cross-cultural approach to contemporary and classical art. Karakaya led the artistic direction, collaborating with designers Ceren Müftüoğlu, Karina Tertychnya, and Zeynep Yeşildağ. The sound design was developed by audio engineer Fırat Özer.
The Türkiye Pavilion is presented in partnership with the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism – London Office, the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICVB), and Gilan Istanbul. This marks over a decade of cultural initiatives by the Yunus Emre Institute to promote Turkish creative talent on the global stage.
The installation also heralds a new collaboration between Karakaya and luxury design house Gilan Istanbul, promising future projects that blend sculptural innovation with artisanal craftsmanship.
Throughout the biennale, the Türkiye Pavilion stands as an invitation to experience Istanbul not just through sight, but through memory, sensation, and imagination—offering a powerful tribute to the enduring soul of the city.