Istanbul’s Seaside Leisure: Nostalgia from Sea Baths to Beaches

Just in time for warmer weather, this study of Istanbul as a city on the sea with a complicated relationship to its dwindling beaches might inspire you to jump in the Bosphorus. Drawing on historical paintings, photographs, books, cartoons and objects and infused with a colourful and playful aesthetic, this show traces the cultural transformations in Istanbul through the popularity of bathing in the sea. We follow the White Russian influence to the abundance of beaches and sea baths in the early 20th century. The tone is delightful, but you might feel an aching nostalgia for the beaches that are no more, or a longing for the summer swimming that’s yet to come.