Tersane Istanbul continues to host the inspiring energy of contemporary art with the 21st Edition of Contemporary Istanbul. Within the scope of Contemporary Istanbul, the monumental installation titled “Once we leave a place is it there” (2024–2025) by world-renowned artist Maia Ruth Lee welcomes art enthusiasts in the grand, high-ceilinged lobby of Rixos Tersane Istanbul. Serving as a continuation of the Bondage Baggage series—inspired by migration stories and the rope-bound luggage from Kathmandu Airport, where the artist spent her childhood—this work emerges from a layered dialogue of fabric, rope, and India ink. Soaring through the lobby’s mesmerizing architecture, six monumental banners, each exceeding 11 meters in length, bring the formal serenity of Buddhist temples into the space. Merging the colors representing the cardinal directions in Korean cosmology (obangsaek) with the green of free passage, the installation invites visitors on a meditative journey through these towering banners to reflect on concepts of belonging, root-taking, and displacement.
Rising at the entrance of Rixos Tersane Istanbul throughout Contemporary Istanbul, this striking installation is merely one facet of Tersane Istanbul’s multifaceted, art-infused atmosphere. With numerous special sculptures and installations positioned across open-air grounds, along the waterfront, and within public spaces where historic heritage meets a contemporary spirit, the shores of the Golden Horn transform into a living art gallery. We invite you to the inspiring world of Tersane Istanbul to experience Maia Ruth Lee’s monumental work, keep your finger on the pulse of Contemporary Istanbul, and discover many more works of art.
