The Lives of Animals

The Lives of Animals explores the evolving relationship between humans and animals throughout history—from coexistence to systems of domination. The exhibition takes its name from the novel by South African writer J. M. Coetzee and draws inspiration from his powerful critique of anthropocentric perspectives, investigating empathy and kindness toward animals.

At the heart of the exhibition is the work of Lin May Saeed, the German-Iraqi artist and activist who passed away in 2023. Known for her satirical yet poignant depictions of human violence against animals, Saeed’s work is presented alongside contributions by artists from Türkiye and different geographies. The selection also features an archival project centered on the stray dogs of Istanbul.

The exhibition begins with Sonic Space, located in the Forum area of Salt Beyoğlu, extending across the second and third floors and concluding in the Winter Garden. Composed of field recordings and sound works by artists working at the intersection of musicology, eco-acoustics, and zoomusicology, this space centers the auditory worlds of animals, offering a site for reflection on interspecies communication through both artistic and scientific lenses. A two-part, site-specific mural by David Maroto interrogates established narratives around domestication, social hierarchy, and the continuity of human-nature relationships—particularly through references to animal iconography from Çatalhöyük.

Moving images, paintings, and installations on the second floor examine themes such as species-based domination, animal liberation, ecological responsibility, and cultural hybridity. Between Care and Violence: The Dogs of Istanbul traces the discourses, spatial politics, administrative and legal processes shaping the lives of dogs in Istanbul since 1910, when over 80,000 street dogs were exiled to Sivriada, the city’s smallest and most remote island. Drawing on a range of archival documents, the work presents a chronology that reveals both the shifting forms of violence enacted against dogs and the culture of care and protection as a countervailing force.

Featuring embroidery, etching, and textile works, the third floor shifts focus to the intertwined themes of care, control, mourning, resistance, and ecological collapse in human-animal relations, as well as individual and collective struggles for nature and animal rights.

The Lives of Animals challenges entrenched social hierarchies and practices that shape human-animal relationships while opening space for imagining new forms of coexistence.

Artists: Apian, Noor Abuarafeh, Pierre Bismuth, melanie bonajo, Elen Braga, Sue Coe, Golden Snail Opera Collective (Isabelle Carbonell, Joelle Chevrier, Yen-Ling Tsai, Anna Tsing), Elmas Deniz, Simone Forti, Piero Giraldi, Laura Lima, Dafna Maimon, Britta Marakatt-Labba, David Maroto, Ad Minoliti, Füsun Onur, Jean Painlevé, Janis Rafa, Maria Roza, Necla Rüzgar, Lin May Saeed, Uriburu
Sonic Space: Cevdet Erek, Nathan Gray, Kathy High, John C. Lilly, Charlemaigne Palestine and Simone Forti, Dr. Roger Payne, Dr. Joyce Poole and Peter Granli, Lisa Schonberg, Jana Winderen
Research Project: Mine Yıldırım

The exhibition is realized with the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Goethe-Institut Istanbul, Flanders State of the Art, Asya International Movers, and with the contributions of Eureko Sigorta, Jotun, and Bankerhan Hotel.