How can nature reclaim its place in our increasingly artificial urban environments? This pressing question lies at the heart of "Creatures of Comfort," a groundbreaking exhibition at Turkey's Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM). Opening September 8, 2024, the show celebrates the museum's fifth anniversary while challenging conventional perspectives on design and urban living.
Curated by Idil Tabanca, who founded OMM with her father Erol, the exhibition assembles works from 37 international and Turkish creators, including luminaries like Gaetano Pesce and Marc Quinn. Artists like Andrea Branzi and Chris Wolston bring distinctive perspectives to the collection. The exhibition operates on a Tuesday to Sunday schedule, welcoming visitors from 10 am to 6 pm daily. The showcase transcends traditional artistic boundaries, presenting an innovative dialogue between nature and human-made spaces through various mediums including sculpture, installation, and furniture design.
Bringing together 37 visionaries, OMM's exhibition breaks artistic conventions to spark fresh conversations between natural and constructed environments.
At the exhibition's core lies a revolutionary approach to material innovation, exemplified by Eric Klarenbeek and Maartje Dros's "Mycelium Chair" – a 3D-printed piece that continues to grow and evolve. This living artwork symbolizes the exhibition's broader mission of reconnecting urban dwellers with natural elements, while questioning the dominant influence of Bauhaus on modern furniture design. The integration of biophilic design is increasingly relevant as it promotes a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
The exhibition's philosophical framework challenges mass industrialization by emphasizing individuality and organic forms. "We're witnessing a collective longing for simpler times amid technological advancement and climate change," explains Tabanca. "These works create spaces where nature can re-enter our urban lives, offering a counterpoint to our increasingly artificial existence."
Located in Eskişehir, approximately 230 kilometers west of Ankara, the exhibition transforms OMM into an immersive environment where boundaries between art and functionality blur. Visitors encounter hyper-realistic paintings depicting impossible natural combinations, furniture pieces adorned with imaginary flora and fauna, and installations that encourage authentic connections with the natural world.
Following its run through July 20, 2025, the exhibition will travel to Amsterdam, extending its exploration of the delicate balance between human comfort and environmental consciousness to an international audience.
