This autumn, the 500-year-old Zeyrek Çinili Hamam will host its first exhibition in its recently discovered Byzantine Cistern, featuring unseen works by Alekos Fassianos as part of a solo show curated by Anlam de Coster in collaboration with Alekos Fassianos Museum and Estate.

Fassianos, a renowned Greek artist whose practice encompasses painting, poetry, ceramic, design, and architecture, is celebrated for his distinctive style that blends ancient art and modernism. His works, characterised by vibrant colours and flowing lines, are deeply rooted in Greek mythology and have the ability to mythologise the quotidian.

Fassianos’ first institutional exhibition in Turkey provides a dialogue between the Works of Fassianos and the multifaceted heritage of the hammam and its cisterns, presenting pieces that engage with Byzantine iconography, the ship graffiti discovered in the cistern and the mysteries that surround them, and the legendary figure of Barbarossa. Fassianos’ works invite viewers to explore a layered dialogue between history, myth, and imagination.

Five major works will be shown for the first time ever in the world, including a painting about Istanbul. Most other works will be shown for the first time outside of Greece.

Held in the enigmatic Byzantine cistern underneath the hammam, the evocative setting conjures new thematic connections with the artist, showing this selection of works together for the first time in response to the history of the hammam. The cistern will continue to serve as a space for contemporary art interventions, complementing the adjacent museum.

Alekos Fassianos: Sailing to Byzantium is open to visitors free of charge until February 22nd, 2025, every day except for Mondays from 10am to 6pm.