Turkey: More Than Kebab, an exhibition and dining experience titled "Exhib-EAT-ion," served as an interactive display of Turkish design, encompassing everything from urban landscapes to table settings during Dutch Design Week 2019. The event was masterminded and overseen by Keten Design, who not only curated the showcase but also crafted its identity, designed the posters, and created captivating visuals for its social media promotion.
In the Netherlands, Turkish culture is often associated primarily with Kebab shops. However, as chefs, designers, and architects, our aim was to go beyond this stereotype and highlight the dynamic nature of Turkish design, which significantly influences various aspects of society and shapes ideas, environments, and interactions, both in intimate and public contexts.
The event brought together a diverse array of Turkish designers, encompassing established brands and emerging talents. Their contributions included pieces from their existing portfolios as well as exclusive prototypes crafted specifically for this occasion. Within the main exhibition hall, a rich tapestry of physical objects, artwork, graphics, and video installations showcased the diverse talents of these artists. The range of products on display spanned from paintings, textiles, ceramics, and woodwork to digitally printed models, architectural concept posters, and captivating videos.
Kütahya Porselen, Melike Altınısık, Canan Ünal, Begüm Cana Özgür, Day Studio, Ezgi Elvan, Gizem Erbilgin, About Blank, PlugOffice, Antrepo London, Neferka, Pirana Film and Ozan Özdilek as well as Keten Design and Aleksandr Karpov all made invaluable contributions to the event, bringing forth a diverse array of projects and products. Their collective efforts were pivotal in creating the unique and vibrant ambiance that defined the event. A special acknowledgment goes to Day Studio for providing the captivating red and teal imagery used in and inspired by the main poster.
We would also like to express our gratitude to our sponsors Tosun Transport, Ozqur, ÖZ Fresh Food Center, Expat Professionals, Megacenter and BBC Finance who demonstrated a strong sense of unity among the Turkish community in Eindhoven, contributing to the event's positive impact.
Turkish Professionals Network of Eindhoven played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration across different fields, making the partnership between Pure Food & Pure Taste and Keten Design possible.
Lastly, a big thank you to (H)eerlijk Anders and Kookschool Kunsten for being exceptional hosts during the event.
The Dining Experience left a lasting impression thanks to the delectable cuisine prepared by Pure Food Pure Taste, the captivating scent experience created by Ezgi Elvan, and the exceptional products contributed by the aforementioned designers.
The bold and striking red design used for posters, social media posts, and newsletters conveyed a sense of a shared Turkish national identity that connected all the various sectors involved in the event, including the culinary aspect.
