As the Creative Director of Istanbul’s art institution Salt, Deniz Ova collaborates with artists, designers and thinkers who are dedicated to design education.

Istanbul

"Definitely go to Salt, obviously! We're just installing an exhibition right now actually. It's a selection of moving image works from the collection at the Polish Modern Art Museum, and is about work produced after the 2000s, but mainly looking into the ‘unknown’ that was the period at the end of the Cold War in 1989."

Salt

"I would start with a walk and breakfast on the shore. Café-wise I would definitely go for lunch at Fıccın, which is very traditional, and then go to see some classical stuff."

Fıccın

"The Hagia Sophia is such an amazing place to see."

Hagia Sophia

"The Grand Bazaar itself is very touristic, but it's such an experience to see the centuries-old architecture and different layers that show how the city lives. There are some hidden jewelry places in the Grand Bazaar with antique jewelry. One place is called İç Bedesten [Inner Bedesten, the heart of the Grand Bazaar], where you have a lot of antique shops selling jewelry from different periods and cultures."

Grand Bazaar

"Do a classical tour and go to Chora Church [Kariye Camii] but at the same time, I would say go to some of the contemporary art institutions that are also situated in different locations in amazing architectural buildings — that is an experience in itself."

Kariye Camii

"In the evening, I would go to one or two different tavernas, or meyhane as we call them, to have meze. Ones like Asmalı Cavit and Koço Restaurant."

Koço Restaurant