WE
Exhibition dates: 24–30 August 2026
Venue: Alanya Kültür Merkezi, Alanya/Antalya, Türkiye
WE is a major international group exhibition that furthers the foundation’s commitment to multicultural dialogue and the visibility of underrepresented communities. With a distinct focus on voices from the North Caucasus alongside global perspectives, the project brings together fifteen contemporary artists whose practices explore collective identity, interconnectedness, and the complex boundaries of shared human experience.
Venue: Alanya Kültür Merkezi, Alanya/Antalya, Türkiye
WE is a major international group exhibition that furthers the foundation’s commitment to multicultural dialogue and the visibility of underrepresented communities. With a distinct focus on voices from the North Caucasus alongside global perspectives, the project brings together fifteen contemporary artists whose practices explore collective identity, interconnectedness, and the complex boundaries of shared human experience.
Curatorial text
The Alan Nekhay Foundation presents WE, a project advancing the institution's ongoing engagement with identity, visibility, and cultural dialogue. Following a foundational year marked by its debut exhibition and public programming, this group show brings together fifteen artists whose practices are deeply rooted in personal and cultural experiences connected to the North Caucasus.
WE proposes viewing the region not as a static construct, but as a dynamic locus of experience, memory, and interconnectedness. Rather than offering a singular representation, the exhibition foregrounds a multiplicity of personal narratives. For the participating artists, cultural experience is integral to their visual lexicon, manifesting through familial memory, language, everyday rituals, and spatial relationships. Here, tradition is not merely reproduced; it serves as the raw material for generating contemporary forms and new meanings.
At its core, the exhibition interrogates the pronoun "we"—not as a marker of a homogenous identity or a unified perspective, but as a space emerging from the intersection of varying generations, artistic methodologies, and individual histories. Collectivity is forged not through assimilation, but through a shared coexistence that preserves the unique voice of each artist.
Within the physical space of the exhibition, the personal and the collective inextricably intertwine. The spatial and sensory experience transcends traditional boundaries: a custom soundtrack commissioned specifically for the project deepens the immersive environment, while on the opening day, a communal table and the act of gathering become the exhibition’s natural continuation. This reinforces that culture is generated not solely through objects and images, but through shared human connection.
The project invites viewers to engage with the contemporary art of the North Caucasus as an autonomous cultural topography where intimate narratives and formal innovations coalesce. Ultimately, WE poses a fundamental question: how is the knowledge of the Other constructed, and what kind of "we" emerges beyond the boundaries of the individual "I"?
WE proposes viewing the region not as a static construct, but as a dynamic locus of experience, memory, and interconnectedness. Rather than offering a singular representation, the exhibition foregrounds a multiplicity of personal narratives. For the participating artists, cultural experience is integral to their visual lexicon, manifesting through familial memory, language, everyday rituals, and spatial relationships. Here, tradition is not merely reproduced; it serves as the raw material for generating contemporary forms and new meanings.
At its core, the exhibition interrogates the pronoun "we"—not as a marker of a homogenous identity or a unified perspective, but as a space emerging from the intersection of varying generations, artistic methodologies, and individual histories. Collectivity is forged not through assimilation, but through a shared coexistence that preserves the unique voice of each artist.
Within the physical space of the exhibition, the personal and the collective inextricably intertwine. The spatial and sensory experience transcends traditional boundaries: a custom soundtrack commissioned specifically for the project deepens the immersive environment, while on the opening day, a communal table and the act of gathering become the exhibition’s natural continuation. This reinforces that culture is generated not solely through objects and images, but through shared human connection.
The project invites viewers to engage with the contemporary art of the North Caucasus as an autonomous cultural topography where intimate narratives and formal innovations coalesce. Ultimately, WE poses a fundamental question: how is the knowledge of the Other constructed, and what kind of "we" emerges beyond the boundaries of the individual "I"?
Mariat Abdulkhamidova
Curator
List of artists
The exhibition features works by:
Mariat Abdulkhamidova, Madu Akhmedova, Akhmat Bikanov, Oleg Chediya, Ilyas Hajji, Ibragim Ikhlazov, Teuchej Kat, Alina Khutova, Huseyin Kuchkarov, Maku Kurachev, Taus Makhacheva, Diana Okaeva, Shamil Shaaev, Zalim Unakafov, Rustam Yakhikhanov.
Mariat Abdulkhamidova, Madu Akhmedova, Akhmat Bikanov, Oleg Chediya, Ilyas Hajji, Ibragim Ikhlazov, Teuchej Kat, Alina Khutova, Huseyin Kuchkarov, Maku Kurachev, Taus Makhacheva, Diana Okaeva, Shamil Shaaev, Zalim Unakafov, Rustam Yakhikhanov.
Exhibition Views
The photographic documentation of WE captures the exhibition across two interconnected registers: the formal installation of the artworks within the space, and the dynamic atmosphere of the opening reception. Together, these images reflect both the physical and social dimensions of the project.
Video Documentation
This film captures the dynamic environment of the WE exhibition during its opening reception. Moving through the gallery space, the footage offers a lived experience of the installation, highlighting the interaction between the visitors, the artworks, and the communal atmosphere of the evening. The video is set to the project’s original soundscape, commissioned from the musical group Myst.
Artists’ Voices: A Collective Statement
As a conceptual extension of the exhibition WE, this short film brings together fifteen artists to reflect on personal and collective legacy. Addressing the complex question, "What would you like to leave behind?", the artists provide insights into their individual philosophies while speaking in their native languages. This auditory topography of the North Caucasus reinforces the exhibition's engagement with multicultural dialogue and the preservation of distinct subjectivities within a shared space.
Public Program: Video Essay
As part of the exhibition’s public programming, renowned fashion historian Alexandre Vassiliev explores the spatial and cultural narrative of WE. Through an exclusive walkthrough, Vassiliev contextualizes the visual language of the North Caucasus, tracing the profound historical influence of the traditional Circassian costume on global fashion. This video essay expands the exhibition’s discourse, bridging contemporary artistic practices with broader cultural history.
Media Coverage
A curated selection of highlights and mentions from leading digital media and cultural channels supporting exhibition.
Artist Focus: Zalim Unakafov
Select canvases presented in the WE exhibition are now available for institutional and private placements. Explore Unakafov’s digital archive and provenance records.
View Available Works
View Available Works
Acknowledgments
The Alan Nekhay Foundation remains committed to fostering open dialogue and supporting meaningful artistic practices across cultural contexts. WE marks a significant continuation of this ongoing work, reinforcing the foundation’s dedication to creating spaces where contemporary artists, new ideas, and diverse perspectives can be seen, shared, and understood.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the participating artists, to the musical group Myst for their commissioned soundscape, to our local partners and community in Türkiye, and to all supporters whose contributions made this exhibition possible.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the participating artists, to the musical group Myst for their commissioned soundscape, to our local partners and community in Türkiye, and to all supporters whose contributions made this exhibition possible.