The exhibition "Barı-n/m-ak" has opened at Müze Gazhane in Istanbul, curated by Hicran Aksöz as a social responsibility project that merges contemporary art with animal rights advocacy. Featuring works by 27 Turkish contemporary artists, the show uses a typographic play on the title to question the concepts of shelter and sheltering, prompting reflection on cohabitation in the city, the right to shelter, and interspecies solidarity. Alongside the artworks, the program includes artist talks and workshops on animal rights-themed art, and at the exhibition's close, artists will connect with collectors to generate funds that will directly purchase supplies for Beşiktaş Municipality Shelters and Angels Farm.
This exhibition matters because it models a concrete solidarity mechanism within the art world, using the sale of artworks to address urgent needs of local animal shelters. By framing animal shelters as both sanctuaries and potential isolation zones, it challenges viewers to reconsider urban cohabitation and the ethics of human-made living spaces for animals. The project also highlights how contemporary art can serve as a platform for social activism, bridging aesthetic practice with tangible community support in Istanbul's cultural landscape.