Dear friends of maḳām,

İstanbul’dan selamlar!

The last few weeks have been full of work, events, art, friends, family, food, readings, gatherings, offerings, surprises, and music that was at times positively overwhelming. I hope the month of May has been treating you well.

In the meantime, we have been attending border_less ARTBOOK DAYS in Istanbul over the last two days. Today is the final day of the book fair, and I will be talking about independent publishing and the making of her beautiful book TAKLAK with the author and artist Dilşad Aladağ, moderated by Huo Rf, at 4pm at the Salt Galata Library.

Also today, ikili will be performing live in Istanbul for the first time with brand new material at non.sight (İ.M.Ç 6. Blok No: 6637, Atatürk Bulvarı, Yavuz Sinan Mahallesi, Unkapanı/Fatih). The concert is free to attend and starts at 7.30pm.

The book fair has been the very first one maḳām editions has attended, and it has been amazing to meet other independent publishers, art and publishing initiatives, and artists, as well as book-loving visitors. I couldn’t be happier to have embarked on this journey.

Our show maḳām #3 in Berlin has been extended until May 30. I will be back with more news about opening times and upcoming June events.

Please also note that I will be reading from my upcoming book with etcetera press — the German translation of Love Songs — as part of Poesiefestival Berlin 2026 on May 20 at 19:30.

Love from my hometown, görüşmek üzere, take care, see you soon x

Seda