CAPPADOX 2016: “Let us cultivate our garden”

Cappadox 2016 launches with the theme of "Let us cultivate our garden" that will act as an intersection of the festival events. The theme is a quote from the last sentence of Voltaire’s classic novel Candide. 

Pozitif is pleased to announce the second year of Cappadox, the definitive Cappadocia experience, a progressive multi disciplinary cultural festival that brings a host of international and local contemporary art, music, nature and outdoor programmes together.

Set in the dramatic landscape of Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, Cappadox 2016 will take place between May 19 - 22, and offer guests unrivalled access to live music, contemporary art, gastronomy and outdoors activities. 

The imperative “let us” in the title anticipates acting together, while “garden” and “cultivate” lead to metaphorical conceptions: “garden” implies our immediate environment, our life and relationships. Likewise, the word “cultivate” involves the acts of developing, shaping and transforming, even preparing for a future in harmony with nature. This theme also leads to further connotations; such as the human-caused planetary changes—climate change, deforestation, loss of farmland, water and air pollution and loss of biodiversity.

The diverse and independently programmed activities of Cappadox related to art, music, gastronomy, and the outdoors, including nature walks and sunrise concerts, will be brought together through different scopes and intensities under the festival’s theme. They will be held in spaces that range from agricultural fields to historic sites, from touristic structures to local settlements.

Contemporary.Arts
The art programme of Cappadox will continue until June 12, and will be curated by Fulya Erdemci and Kevser Güler (Associate Curator) with the participation of 15 artists and collaborators including Asunción Molinos Gordo (Cairo, Muscat and Guzmán), Ayşe Erkmen (Berlin and Istanbul),Christoph Schaefer (Hamburg), Hera Büyüktaşçıyan (Istanbul), John Körmeling (Eindhoven), Maider Lopez (San Sebastian), Marilá Dardot (São Paulo), Murat Germen (Istanbul), Murat Şahinler (Istanbul) and Nilbar Güreş (Vienna and Istanbul). Cappadocia has been going through a shift from an agrarian livelihood to an economy more reliant on tourism. Drawing on this, the artists will focus on farming, “fast” tourism and the relations of production under transformation. Furthermore, with site-specific and context responsive interventions, they will bring to the forefront the area’s living culture, inhabitants, voices, textures and even blossoming flowers.

Music
Music is a key component within the programme of Cappadox. Cappadox 2016 concerts will give artists the opportunity to perform in unique locations within Cappadocia. Attendees will be able to enjoy concerts in magical locations such as the Castle of Uçhisar, Ziya’s Place, Red Valley, Columned Church and Rose Valley. Cappadox will feature a strong line-up of national and international names. The confirmed line-up to date includes ethnic jazz, world music, new age and classic instrumental artists such as Adam Hurst, Dhafer Youssef, Erik Truffaz, Esmerine, Fennesz, Karsu, Laraaji, Sun Ra Arkestra, Udi Yervant and Taksim Trio. The complete music line-up will be announced in due course. The audience will be able to experience the Full Moon concerts in conjunction with the nature walks, and Sunrise Concerts with the outdoor activities. Cappadox 2016 is preparing to become a festival that will be remembered for fulfilling the curious minds of its visitors, through a strong connection to the natural and historical background of its amazing setting.

Gastronomy
The gastronomy events will engage visitors by introducing them to the traditional food cultures of Cappadocia, which date back to thousands of years, and will revisit this culture in the light of traditional as well as contemporary approaches to cooking. Under the direction of Maksut Aşkar, chef of neolokal; Istanbul’s acclaimed spot for contemporary Anatolian cuisine, invited chefs will prepare special menus for the festival and will introduce fresh and innovative approaches to the region’s traditional food varieties.

Outdoor
With its natural valleys and ancient pathways, Cappadocia is a unique open-air destination. The outdoor activities within Cappadox will allow visitors to explore Cappadocia’s inspiring and extraordinary landscape in novel and diverse ways. The festival will adapt trekking routes to accommodate acoustic nature concerts and picnics. There will be yoga and meditation sessions held both at sunrise and sunset, which will carry forward the high spirit of the Cappadocia region.

About Cappadox
There are several theories about the meaning of Cappadocia. One of the most likely explanations offers an etymological link that goes back to a major tributary of the Kızılırmak River: which the ancient Greeks perhaps referred to as the Cappadox, but today is known as the Delice River. Cappadox Festival takes its name from this past, and the unexpected nature, fluidity and fertility of water. Launched in 2015 (May 16–18), Cappadox offered an extraordinary experience of Cappadocia to global culture hunters. The festival hosted 24 concerts from both local and international artists, contemporary art performances and installations, 10 gastronomy events, 21 outdoor expeditions and a multitude of select well-being sessions spread across three days. Cappadox 2016 will be located around Uçhisar and Göreme, including the valleys of Ziya, Kızılçukur, Güvercinlik, Meskendir and Zemi. Visitors are recommended to plan their trip and make hotel and flight bookings in advance.

About Pozitif
Pozitif is dedicated to connecting and transforming communities around best-in-class global creative curations around music, arts, culture and entertainment experiences. Pozitif has been Turkey’s integrated entertainment marketing pioneer for the past 26 years, shaping the cultural landscape through music and lifestyle hubs such as Babylon, Doublemoon Records, Bomontiada and one of Europe’s most acoustically advanced performance halls, Volkswagen Arena. Pozitif is active in the fields of entertainment marketing, live music and artistic programming, venue management, lifestyle club management, media and music publishing Having promoted world-famous artists such as U2, Metallica, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, Pozitif holds the pole position in Turkey’s live music entertainment landscape. Pozitif is also the creator of Turkey’s most rooted music and lifestyle festivals, including the Akbank International Jazz Festival, D-Marin Turgutreis Classical Music Festival, One Love Festival, Blues Festival.

Ticket Information
Tickets will be available on www.biletix.com from mid February 2016
www.cappadox.com