29 Comments

Hi Tuğba, I was so drawn to your essay by its title and your listing of Athens and bitter oranges in particular. I absolutely love the concept of the cabinet of curiosities and how you've explored it here. It's so fascinating reading about the origins of bitter oranges - I was born and grew up in Southeast Asia (Singapore), but never really encountered bitter oranges growing up. I did see them everywhere while solo travelling in Andalucía, which feels like a spirit home for me, and now they have a special resonance and nostalgia for me for that reason.

I've visited Greece once, but not Athens, and recently I've been feeling so pulled to go back there, and have also found that all my favourite books in recent years have a connection to Greece. It inspires me to hear about you writing your book and taking Greek lessons in Athens! This reminded me of a fiction book that's on my reading list, called Greek Lessons, by Han Kang, which I hope to read soon after I finish the Outline trilogy (by Rachel Cusk) I'm reading at the moment, which also has many scenes set in Greece.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful cabinet of curiosities, and I'm looking forward to getting to know more curiosities in your collection :)

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Thank you very much! I will write the next edition soon with some new additions. Thank you for the book recommendations. I haven't yet had them on my list, but I will add them. I highly recommend Athens, but not in the summer as it's too hot and touristy. I will be back in September for a wedding and am excited.

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Thank you for sharing this Tuğba. I can very much relate to your obsessions with the things you are interested in, and how you’ve always been this way. Sometimes my obsessions will wax and wane with time, sometimes they will become permanent artifacts in my own mental cabinet of curiosities. It’s fascinating to learn that these cabinets are the origins of museums. I have also always been a collector of things that inspire me—rocks, shells, feathers, plants, essential oils, books, musical instruments, art—and indeed sometimes I will defer to these items when hanging out with a friend at home and it’s time for a new intriguing topic! Sadly I too don’t have so much space to save it all forever, so my physical collections also wax and wane over time, often moving to a new location forces me to pare down or start all over. Appreciate all you share. Cheers!

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Hi Christian, I was offline and just catching up on things! I loved reading your comment 🥰. I feel the same way! I really wish I had a whole room dedicated to physical curiosities, like a mini museum at home. How amazing would that be! Have a good week 🖤

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I grew up smelling the blossoms of bitter oranges (νερατζιές in Greek) and my mother made the most fragrant and decadent marmalade using them, lemons and oranges every year when they bore fruit. I love the idea of the cabinet and in the spirit of your point of staying curious I always say "you have to stay interested if you want to be interesting". Nice post! Enjoy the blooming citruses :)

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I feel warm in my heart after reading your words about your mom making marmalade. It's amazing how certain things can transport us back to those days. Thank you for your comment. I have just posted the second edition, which includes more Athens 🥰

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I also love the Wunderkammer! My music studio is one. Over the years I've collected many inspiring objects on my travels.

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Apr 21·edited Apr 21Author

I missed your message! Wow, that sounds amazing. When you say objects, do you mean instruments and things related to music or anything that interests you? Reading your message, I remembered watching a documentary about Evelyn Glennie. She has a Wunderkammer at home, too, full of different instruments from around the world. It was amazing! The documentary has two parts. You would like it. Happy sunday!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEuZ3B9B4HA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXIMELBqpd8

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Apr 6Liked by Tuğba Avci

I am forever in love with Athens and one of the things I think most fond of is the scent of oranges throughout the city in spring and summer! Enjoy your two months!!

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Apr 21·edited Apr 21Author

Jane, thank you so much for your message! I apologize for not responding earlier; I only saw it this morning. I completely agree that the transition to Spring is lovely. Although it may have been subtle initially, it's now apparent everywhere if you pay close attention. The scents in the air are powerful and delicious. It's a beautiful time of year! Happy sunday 🖤

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Very enjoyable. As a curious artist too I am wondering what I might put in a cabinet of curiosities.

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I'm seriously considering starting some physical cabinet, too, haha. It's just that my flat is so tiny. I'm renting a room in a creative space, but that is also a little small!

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I miss the oranges and the bells. Thank you.

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The bitter oranges are called neràtzia(plural). Especially good for sweet desserts!

Wishing you a wonderful start with "Curiosities"!

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OBSESSED. I really don’t have any other words right now. I’ve always loved the concept of cabinets of curiosity. And I loved reading your take on them and learning more about what’s catching your attention in different places.

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Thank you so much, Lauren. I was thrilled to read your comment this morning. Your support means a lot to me. Let's revive both physical and digital cabinets. Have you ever seen one in real life, like in someone's house? I haven't, but I'm dying to see one. If I ever move into a bigger place, I would love to dedicate a room or a corner of a room to a cabinet of curiosities.

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I love the cabinet of curiosities, not so much the royalty/colonist part but the idea of sharing what you find intriguing. My cabinet, or desk has so much random stuff that it is curious indeed.

Tuğba this was great. Stay curious because the way one thinks is the art. How our minds go from one thing to the next is magic, so allow the magic to do its thing and if you can write that process down you are documenting your magic. Beautiful! 🪄💫

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Thank you so much! Gosh, we need to bring back these physical and digital curiosities. It makes us pay attention more. For the past two years, I have loved collecting things, especially art books haha what kind of things do you have on your desk? Now I got curious :)

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Mar 10Liked by Tuğba Avci

I love the sound recordings, thank you for sharing Tuğba! The bells are particularly beautiful, I'd love to hear a longer recording sometime (or the real thing of course!)

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Thank you so much! I have a longer recording, but there was a bit more background noise, so I uploaded this one. I will share it with you via email if it works, as it is a large file. It's a shame we can only send photos in the DMs here.

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Hola , Siempre Es Una Gran Alegría Leer Estos Fascinantes Artículos. Me Encanto Saber Que Te Gusta La Arqueología De Egipto , Ya Somos Dos , ¿ Por Cierto Has Visisato Alguna Vez Egipto , Conoces Él Reino Perdido De Kush ( Sudán) , Sus Maravillosas Y Misteriosas Pirámides ?. Sobre Los Naranjos , Te Puedo Decir Que En Valencia Y En Los Pueblos De Alrededor , En Muchas Avenidas Y Calles Están Llenos De Naranjos " Bordes " , Como Los Llamamos Aquí , Normalmente Cuando Éstas Naranjas Caen Al Suelo , Los Ayuntamientos Las Recogen , Principalmente Para Hacer Abono Con Ellas , Ante La Gran Cantidades De Ellas Que Hay. Cuando Hablas Sobre El Sonido De Las Campanas , Me He Dado Cuenta , Qué Llevo Meses Sin Escucharlas , Vivía En Él Centro De La Ciudad , Y Su Sonido Era Para Mí Muy Familiar , Ahora Como Sabes Vivo En Una Zona Muy Alejada Del Bullicio De Las Grandes Ciudades. Más Cosas , Una De Mis Curiosidades , Más Sagradas Que Tengo , Son Grabaciones De Mis Abuelos Contándome Su Vida , Hablando De La Guerra Civil Española 1936-39 , De La Segunda Guerra Mundial 1940-45 , Él Paso De Mí Abuelo Por Dos Campos De Exterminio Nazi , Uno En Francia Y Otro En Alemania , De Sus Cuarenta Años De Exilio Y Miles De Conversaciones Más. Ahora Que Vivo En Una Pequeña Aldea , Estoy Grabando Las Historias De La Gente Mayor , ( Todas En Realidad , La Persona Más Joven Tiene 84 Años ) , No Quiero Que Sus Historias Pasen Al Olvido. Sobre La Música , Aquí Té Dejó Unas Rarezas , Hay Un Guitarrista Griego , ( Sí Te Gusta Te Puedo Pasar El Archivo Digital Y Otra Mujer Que Me Tiene Fascinado Su Sonido , En Su Página Puedes Descargar Casi Todos Sus Álbum Gratis. Un Saludo Y Que Pases Una Gran Semana , En Esa Fantástica Ciudad , Que Es Atenas. 1- https://deathisnot.bandcamp.com/album/george-katsaros-greek-blues-in-america-vol-1. 2- https://nforeman.bandcamp.com/album/its-raining-in-your-room

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Recuerdo que mencionaste las historias grabadas de tus abuelos. Creo que es lo más preciado que cualquiera puede tener. Es hermoso. Tengo dos breves fragmentos de mis abuelos. Algo muy tonto pero de vez en cuando los escucho para no olvidar sus voces. Como lamentablemente murieron hace algún tiempo. Los extraño mucho. Creo que escuché Lost Kingdom of Kush (Sudán), pero necesitaría buscarlo. De hecho, investigando sobre las naranjas leí que en España también hay muchas :) También se llaman naranja amarga, naranja agria y naranja de Sevilla. Gracias por los enlaces de música, los echaré un vistazo. También muchas gracias por leer todas mis publicaciones y tomarse el tiempo para comentar. ¿Estás pensando en publicar estas grabaciones en algún lugar? Es algo tan hermoso lo que estás haciendo.

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Hola , Las Grabaciones Que Estoy Realizando , Seguramente Acabarán En Alguna Universidad Cercana , O Las Utilice Para Escribir Un Esnayo , Aunque Para Mí Sería Genial Poder Hacer Un Documental , Sobre Las Tradiciones Y La Vida Rural En Éstas Zonas , Que Se Están Despoblando A Una Velocidad Altisima. Un Saludo.

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Oh Tuğba, this was so delicious to read ! Aside from your writing, I love that I always learn something reading your pieces. I too enjoy the concept of cabinet de curiosités (sorry had to show off my french 😆), but the ones I came accross as a child were filled mainly with old insects and bones, which really put me off at the time.

I like how you are using this concept and it opened up my mind to it again.

Have a lovely sunday x

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Thank you so much, and excuse my French, Claire haha are you French yourself, or do you speak the language? Wow, you came across some real ones. Were they family members? I don't recall anyone having or having a cabinet at home, but I think we all should bring this back, both physical and digital ones.

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Yes, I am french (a nice one hopefully 🤣). The cabinet from my memories are ones I saw on books or in museums. Your piece really prompted an idea. I'm trying to explore more my artistique side by mixing mediums but I wasn't sure what could be my entry point/subject to focus on. That may be it : cabinet of curiosités !

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I have never met a French person who wasn't nice, and I am not just saying that! I don't understand why French people have that reputation. It may be because I live in Germany, where people are straightforward, which can be rude to some people. What kinds of mediums do you mix? You have piqued my interest! I also work with various materials but have never really mixed anything before.

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I'll send you a private message to explain if that's okay. I'm glad that that the french you met were nice because we don't really have a good reputation when abroad/with foreigners.

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