Hatchery
In Hatchery, Beyza Dilem Topdal-İrez offers a speculative glimpse into the future of marine life in the Bosphorus, a natural strait in Istanbul that forms a boundary between Asia and Europe.
Inspired by Karekin Deveciyan’s historic book Fish and Fisheries in Turkey (1915) and participatory discussions with fishermen, activists, and biologists, Topdal-İrez merges past and present species into new, imagined forms. Using artificial intelligence (AI), these creatures are transformed and presented as vibrant microcosms. The installation highlights the fragility and complexity of the Bosphorus ecosystem. Sounds of oxygen-boosting machines, used to sustain marine life, create an atmosphere of anxious care. Hatchery envisions a future for the Bosphorus, hundreds of years ahead.
