A Year of Knowledge, Curiosity, and Discovery:Gate 27’s 2024 Almanac Has Been Published
Since its founding in 2019, Gate 27 has supported creative practices at the intersection of art, science, and social impact. With the release of its comprehensive 2024 Almanac, Gate 27 continues to document and share the creative journeys experienced by its residents.
Documenting a year-long network of production shaped by artists, thinkers, researchers, and interdisciplinary practitioners hosted in its Istanbul and Ayvalık premises, this latest edition of the Almanac serves not only as an archive but also as a collective memory project that highlights the transformative power of art in social and ecological contexts.
Published annually since 2020, Gate 27’s almanacs offer detailed insight into the processes of its residents and make a lasting contribution to their dissemination. The 2024 edition presents a rich overview of interdisciplinary projects developed by artists from diverse geographies, as well as public programs and collaborations held throughout the year, alongside new works added to the Gate 27 Collection. These are brought together in an integrated format alongside the 2024 annual activity report.
Gate 27: A Living Space for Interdisciplinary Dialogue
In the foreword of the 2024 Almanac, E. Melisa Sabancı Tapan, Gate 27’s founder , highlights the platform’s ongoing transformation:
“Gate 27 is not just a residency program; it is an interaction platform nourished by collective thinking, where art and science converge into spaces of co-creation. This year, the diversity brought by our residents, each working with distinct approaches, further deepened the foundation of production at Gate 27. Gate 27 not only hosts artists for the sake of production; it fosters a space where art is reshaped through relationships formed with people from diverse fields of knowledge, including science, nature, social memory, and craft. To date, our role has often been that of a quiet participant, part of our residents’ research or pilot projects. But as we look to the future, we are seeking ways to create a more profound and meaningful impact. We aim to expand our support for diverse projects and collaborations, nurturing the ripple effect of these ideas as they spread to places and people we hadn’t yet imagined.”
The Almanac Deepens with Reports and Interviews
The activity report prepared by Burak Mert Çiloğlugil, Gate 27 Director , provides an analysis of the work carried out throughout 2024, while also highlighting the social impact created through the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders. Through interviews, collaborations, and conversations with residents, this year’s publication explores how Gate 27’s institutional vision resonates across different disciplines.
Gate 27 designs its programs in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goals No. 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), No. 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), No. 13 (Climate Action), and No. 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). This approach was reflected in the 2024 residents’ projects, which focused on themes such as environment, justice, accessibility, and solidarity.
Gate 27 Director Burak Mert Çiloğlugil also shared that in 2025, the first phase of Gate 27’s social impact measurement efforts will culminate in a report assessing the impact the program has on its residents. He added: “We thank our collaborators who supported our residents throughout their journey at Gate 27. Their contributions go beyond offering space or production resources – they actively participate in the process, facilitating mutual knowledge exchange. This helps ensure that Gate 27’s work can inspire the broader industry and support the development of alternative ways of working. In 2025, Gate 27 will continue to be part of the transformation, placing art, science, and collective production at the heart of its vision.”
Gate 27 Hosted 10 Resident Projects in 2024
In 2024, Gate 27 supported the research and production processes of 10 projects: 7 at its Istanbul premises and 3 in Ayvalık. This year’s invited projects prioritized the use of biomimicry and biomaterials, emphasizing the exploration of intersections between science and art.
Damla Yalçın investigated the potential use of SCOBY, a biomaterial formed during kombucha fermentation, in textile production, as well as the possibilities of developing new materials. She joined Gate 27’s Istanbul residency with the support and collaboration of ORTA , a pioneering company in denim fabric production for over 70 years. To facilitate her experiments in scientific contexts, she was granted access to a laboratory at Sabancı University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, under the guidance of Professor Nur Mustafaoğlu in the field of biology.
Gabriela Albergaria conducted research and documentation on the role of parks, gardens, and urban farms in Istanbul’s city life, focusing on how urbanization transforms nature and the outcomes of this evolving relationship.
Indigo Perry is working on her new book, which centers on the healing of trauma and the resilience required to continue living with difficult experiences. Drawing from her process of mourning, she developed performances that engage with themes of grief and emotional recovery.
During her residency in Ayvalık, Ayfer İdil Kemaloğlu studied the lichens growing on the region’s olive trees and collaborated with various scientists to develop sustainable urban designs inspired by the biological structures of lichens. The artist received scientific support from Prof. Dr. Zehra Sayers, Emeritus Faculty at Sabancı University; Prof. Dr. Gülşah Çobanoğlu, faculty member at Marmara University; and Prof. Dr. Ayhan Şenkardeşler from Ege University during her residency.
Nathalie Rey focused on her project titled “Live Well, Die Well,” which highlights the often-overlooked sustainability of funeral services and related industries, advocating for the inclusion of both life and death within holistic sustainable practices. She presented the works she created during her residency in a special screening week, attended by representatives from the cultural and arts sectors. Additionally, in collaboration with PerformIstanbul, she performed at PerformIstanbul’s venue in Galata.
Abigail Reynolds examines the influence of natural phenomena, including seasonal changes and climatic events, on human life through her sculpture and installation art. During her residency at Gate 27, she created a series of works inspired by the Bosphorus breezes and the changing sunlight that streams over Gate 27’s Istanbul premises throughout the day.
The contemporary music duo Passepartout Duo, from Italy and the USA, created compositions using underwater sound recordings captured from various bays around Ayvalık. These recordings, which document underwater life through sound, are performed using instruments crafted by the duo themselves.
Elif Çak combines research from the fields of gastrophysics and neurophysics with her designs. During her residency at Gate 27, she explored how the design of presentation items such as plates and glasses can enhance the sensory experience of consumption, offering an augmented consumption experience. Notably, this was her first time working with glass.
Ying Xinxun works on sustaining traditional embroidery crafts and contributing to cultural memory by integrating new materials such as heat-sensitive threads. Serving as the Vice Chair of the Fiber Arts Department at Hangzhou University in China, during her residency in Istanbul, she organized an embroidery workshop that brought together artists, curators, and designers. She also exhibited various works created from patterns produced in the workshop.
During his residency in Ayvalık, Murat Akagündüz translated his observations of migrant remnants, like fishing nets, life jackets, and broken boat parts, into performative drawings that explore their renewed connection with everyday life.
An Ecosystem Strengthened by Collaborations
Gate 27’s 2024 program was enriched not only by the productions of resident artists but also through the contributions of experts, researchers, and creative professionals who supported various events, projects, and talks throughout the year.
Sebla Önder, Marketing and Sustainability Manager at ORTA , a leading denim manufacturer with over 70 years of experience in the industry, emphasized the brand’s commitment to collaborating with creative individuals and communities to advance its sustainability initiatives: “Art, Technology, and Sustainability are at the core of ORTA’s DNA. When you serve the fashion industry, art inevitably becomes part of you. We see art reflected in biology, ecology, systems, and life itself. We believe the future will be shaped by artists who can bridge art, science, and technology.”
Meanwhile, participants and academics involved in workshops and lecture series held throughout the year reinforced Gate 27’s knowledge-sharing framework. Levent Kahraman , director of Sabancı University’s Küçükköy Creative Technologies Workshop, shared his views on collaborating with Gate 27, highlighting the importance of institutional social impact: “Our educational approach at the Ayvalık Summer Schools supports children’s creativity by emphasizing practical applications and enabling them to experience how to use technology in their daily lives. Since first encountering Gate 27, I believed our approaches would be well aligned. In the workshops and trainings we organize at Küçükköy Creative Technologies Workshop, we focus on topics that raise awareness among children and young people. Additionally, we engage in cultural, architectural, and environmental conservation projects in the region, hosting trainings, presentations, talks, and meetings. This way, we aim to raise awareness not only among children and youth but also among local leaders, educators, and residents.”
Gate 27 continues to serve not only as a space for artists but also as a hub for meetings and interactions among academics, craftspeople, and cultural producers. This multilayered structure once again demonstrates how art becomes stronger through collective creation.
Art and Science Meet on Common Ground
Thanks to the collaboration between Gate 27 and Sabancı University , Gate 27’s resident artists gained access to the university’s laboratories, enabling them to enrich their projects with scientific methods. With the expansion of this partnership in 2024, various research centers within the university also became involved in the process. As in the previous year, Nur Mustafaoğlu , a faculty member of Sabancı University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, opened her laboratory for Gate 27 resident Damla Yalçın. The artist conducted various experiments with the laboratory team to investigate and transform the mechanical strength, color, and other properties of SCOBY material into new forms.
In 2024, the scope of collaboration with Sabancı University expanded through İdil Kemaloğlu’s project. Sabancı University’s Collaboration Space (Co-Space), Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center (SU IMC), and the university’s Küçükköy Creative Technologies Workshop in Ayvalık supported Kemaloğlu’s project, contributing significantly to the intersection of art, science, and industry.
20 New Works Added to the Gate 27 Collection
Gate 27 has expanded its Gate 27 Collection, comprising works donated by artists participating in its residency program, with 20 new pieces as of 2024. This brings the total number of works in the collection to 100. These donations underscore Gate 27’s role not only as a production space but also as a hub for preserving lasting cultural heritage.
Impact and Reach: Quality Over Quantity
Throughout the year, Gate 27 hosted 15 in-person events, reaching a total of 290 participants. Additionally, digital campaigns and media outlets extended their reach to 1,105,000 people . Visibility was further enhanced through content featured in 94 different publications, both nationally and internationally. Through special screenings, artist talks, children’s workshops, and private visits, Gate 27’s public program opened its doors to a broader community.
About Gate 27
Gate 27 is an international creatives-in-residency program established in 2019 to support research and production processes across diverse practices and to foster interdisciplinary exchange.
Approaching art as a method of research, Gate 27 invites artists, researchers, and academics to its spaces in İstanbul and Ayvalık to engage in dialogue around ecology, sustainability, accessibility, and local creative networks. It encourages new collaborations through its public programs and events.
Gate 27 provides residents with a calm working and studio environment for a period of four to twelve weeks, offering facilitation to access various resources and people to deepen their research. Participants become part of a wide and continuously growing network of artists and researchers who have previously taken part in the program.
Residents benefit from the mentorship of experts in relevant fields while also expanding their professional networks through connections with former participants of the program.
