EXHIBITION THEME
İstinye University Faculty of Communication will organize an Online Visual Arts Exhibition titled "Crowded Loneliness" for the 5th Media and Society Symposium from May 21 to October 21, 2025. The exhibition will be open to general submissions from artists and designers and will feature works by national and international invited artists. It is open to artistic works that can be digitally exhibited, regardless of technique.
Technology is transforming the way humans interpret life and express emotions. The selection of "Crowded Loneliness" as the Word of the Year 2024 by the Turkish Language Association highlights the lack of depth in communication. This concept reflects the dual impact of social networks—making individuals feel present in the public sphere while simultaneously trapping them in loneliness. While digitalization transforms individuals into active content creators, social media also brings challenges, such as misinformation and polarization. In Turkey, 75 million people spend an average of three hours daily on social media, leading individuals to form stronger connections with digital communities rather than their physical surroundings. "Crowded Loneliness" describes the individual's experience of superficial relationships and shallow interactions. While virtual socialization may temporarily suppress feelings of loneliness, it is closely linked to the inability to establish meaningful emotional connections. The competition and uncertainty of the digital world weaken social bonds, while social networks fail to fully meet this need, pushing individuals into an even more profund sense of loneliness. Although society appears to be part of a global crowd, it experiences profound isolation. In this context, the concept of "Crowded Loneliness" has been chosen as the theme for our exhibition.