History and contemporary art come together beneath the streets of Istanbul in Then and Now, a striking new exhibition by internationally acclaimed Turkish artist Seçkin Pirim. Set inside the 1,600-year-old Theodosius Cistern, the site-specific exhibition invites visitors to experience one of the city’s most remarkable historic landmarks through the lens of modern sculpture, light, and spatial design.
Organized at the historic cistern operated by Kültür AŞ, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the exhibition remains open to the public through August 31, offering a unique dialogue between ancient architecture and contemporary artistic expression.
A Historic Landmark Reimagined Through Contemporary Art
The Theodosius Cistern, one of Istanbul’s oldest surviving water structures, provides an extraordinary setting for Pirim’s latest installation.
Using the symbolism of water as its central theme, Then and Now blends contemporary sculpture with the cistern’s centuries-old columns, reflections, and atmospheric lighting. Works installed both inside and at the entrance of the underground monument create an immersive experience that encourages visitors to reflect on the relationship between time, memory, and space.
Rather than competing with the site’s remarkable history, the exhibition embraces it, allowing the architecture itself to become part of the artistic experience.
Opening Celebrates the Meeting of Past and Present
The exhibition opened with a ceremony attended by representatives from the diplomatic community, local government, the arts sector, and media organizations.
During the opening, Osman Cenk Akın, General Manager of Kültür AŞ, emphasized the significance of presenting contemporary art inside a structure that has stood for nearly sixteen centuries.
He described the exhibition as an opportunity for visitors to experience both Istanbul’s cultural heritage and contemporary artistic vision within the same extraordinary environment, where history and modern creativity exist in harmony.
Artist Seçkin Pirim reflected on the privilege of exhibiting inside such an iconic monument, noting that no artwork could compete with the power of the building itself and expressing gratitude to Kültür AŞ and the Dirimart team for bringing the ambitious project to life.
The evening concluded with a performance by the Orphe Choir, a guided exhibition tour, and the presentation of Music TR100, an archival publication celebrating the Republic of Türkiye’s musical heritage.
A Dialogue Between Water, Memory, and Time
Designed specifically for the historic venue, Then and Now uses reflections on the cistern’s water surface together with carefully orchestrated lighting to transform the underground space into an evolving visual environment.
The exhibition encourages visitors to experience the monument not simply as a preserved archaeological site but as a living cultural destination where architecture, contemporary art, and sensory experience intersect.
Through its layered installation, Pirim reinterprets the memory of the space while inviting audiences to contemplate how history continues to shape the present.
The Artistic Vision of Seçkin Pirim
Born in Ankara in 1977, Seçkin Pirim is widely recognized as one of Türkiye’s leading contemporary artists.
After completing both his undergraduate and graduate studies in sculpture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Pirim established an international career spanning sculpture, installation, and design.
His works have been exhibited at prestigious institutions including Saatchi Gallery in London, Triennale Milano, Istanbul Modern, Pera Museum, Borusan Art, Museum Haus Konstruktiv, and galleries in New York, Switzerland, and China.
Working in a distinctive neo-minimalist style, Pirim combines materials such as plexiglass, marble, aluminum, and paper into layered compositions built from repetitive forms.
Inspired by Mevlana’s philosophy of “from one to the whole,” his work explores self-discovery, transformation, spiritual purification, and humanity’s relationship with the modern world.
His recent projects increasingly examine the search for inner balance amid contemporary life’s complexity and constant change.
Theodosius Cistern Emerges as a Cultural Destination
Originally constructed during the 5th century, the Theodosius Cistern remained hidden beneath later buildings for centuries before being rediscovered during restoration work initiated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 2010.
Following extensive conservation and landscaping, the underground structure was transformed into an archaeological museum and cultural venue operated by Kültür AŞ.
Today, the cistern offers far more than historical exhibitions.
Visitors can experience contemporary art installations, cultural events, and live performances inside one of Istanbul’s most atmospheric architectural landmarks.
Among its most popular attractions is the nightly “Voices from the Deep” concert series, which further enhances the unique atmosphere of the underground monument.
A Must-See Cultural Experience in Istanbul
By bringing together one of Istanbul’s oldest architectural treasures with one of Türkiye’s leading contemporary artists, Then and Now creates a compelling conversation between history and modern creativity.
The exhibition demonstrates how cultural heritage can serve not only as a reminder of the past but also as a platform for new artistic ideas and immersive visitor experiences.
Open through August 31, Then and Now offers residents and international visitors alike the opportunity to discover the remarkable intersection of archaeology, architecture, contemporary art, and performance within the unforgettable setting of the Theodosius Cistern, one of Istanbul’s most extraordinary cultural destinations.