Based Istanbul Welcomes: Bahar Bambi

Connecting with yourself through your own channels… Bahar Bambi reveals her story in the sophisticated details of her designs. She fuses together the perfect maximalism of Middle Eastern imagery with her signature mixed media techniques. Full of joy and passion, she captures the sparks of inspiration on the canvas. Searching for her authentic self in the journey of creation, she brings her ideas to life. Bahar does not seek a final destination, she believes that place will find her as long as she keeps on flowing.

Let’s start from the beginning. What was your initial motivation? Is there something or someone that inspired you?

Art has always meant everything to me, a balance basically. What really gets me going is when I turn those ideas in my head into something real. It’s like a special kind of high. One moment, it’s just a spark and the next, it’s right there in front of you. And when you finally nail it? Man, that feeling is unbeatable.

As for inspiration, I find it everywhere—my family, my friends, the places I go, my culture, interior design,… Sometimes it’s the littlest things, like randomly a line from a song. My grandma is a huge inspiration too. She used to weave the most amazing rugs, which pretty much explains my art.

What do roots mean to you? What’s the relationship between your roots and your inspiration?

Roots to me are the foundation from which everything grows. If you look at my art, you’ll notice it’s this fusion of abstract and traditional Middle Eastern art. I wanted to blend these two styles that are so distinct, much like my upbringing. I was born and raised in Berlin but my parents are both from Turkey. It’s this melting pot of cultures, creating something entirely new – a culture of its own.

How much do your instincts influence your work? Does control come from within you or from your inner world while you’re creating?

Instinct is what powers my art. I don’t like to overplan. It’s all about catching that initial spark of inspiration. I’ve learned that the best pieces come from letting go and getting lost in the process, embracing that childlike curiosity. That’s where the real creativity flows. Sure, it can be overwhelming and even frustrating sometimes but I came to embrace that, because thats the beauty of the journey.

What does feeling good mean in your world?

In my world, feeling good means finding peace. It’s about being calm and happy inside, just being grateful, even when life gets crazy. It’s when my mind feels relaxed and my heart feels happy. Whether I’m making art, hanging out with family or just enjoying the present, feeling good is all about finding my own peace and being in my own pace.

What’s in Bahar Bambi’s imagination? What goes through your mind when you’re designing?

When I design, my mind fills up with tons of ideas and options. It’s exciting, a whole different rush. It feels really good. I always have thoughts and inspirations randomly popping up and I’ve learned to welcome them all. To remember these bursts of inspiration, I cover my wall with sticky notes full of ideas. They’re like little reminders of the creative sparks that hit me.

What can we expect from your activity at the Nike Well Festival? Could we hear about the Personalization Workshop in your own words?

I’ve created a design inspired by Turkish cultural patterns, kind of like those cini designs you see, with each flower having its own special meaning. The colors I picked are super vibrant, matching the festival’s vibe of connection, mindfulness and movement. We’ll be customizing sports bras, adding our own personal touch to each one. Because let’s face it, who doesn’t love a cute, unique sports bra? It’s all about celebrating your individuality and expressing yourself.

How does the concept of “well-being” embraced by the festival position itself in your life?

The idea of well-being that the festival focuses on is really important to me. It reminds me to take care of my overall health and happiness, not just my body but also my mind and emotions. Being creative and expressing myself is a big part of who I am and feeling good is key to making that happen. It’s about finding balance, taking care of myself inside and out and feeling fulfilled and purposeful.

How much space does sports occupy in your life?

Sports have become a huge part of my daily routine. It’s not just about moving; it’s about starting my day feeling positive and ready for anything. The boost of energy and mental clarity it gives me is priceless, helping me tackle tasks with the right focus.

Plus, it’s made me more disciplined overall, which has been a game-changer in other areas of my life. Even when I’m feeling lazy in the moment, I remind myself to stay focused because that feeling of accomplishment in the end is everything.

What is the driving force behind your moments of creation?

What really motivates me when I’m creating is the awesome feeling of bringing my ideas to life. It’s like I’m tapping into a huge source of inspiration and just letting it all pour out onto the canvas. Whether it’s adding color or exploring a new concept, I’m all about expressing myself and connecting with both myself and others through my art.

What are the codes in sportswear? Do the requirements of the activity or your style preferences take precedence in your decisions?

Sportswear is all about getting that mix just right. You want stuff that works for your activity but also lets your style shine through. So, feeling comfy, flexible, and good is key. Personally, I’m all about my yoga pants and shorts, especially when I’m working. I can sit for ages, so I’ll slip in some stretches or quick yoga breaks here and there. Also, I love pairing my sports bras with my blazers – it’s a comfy and stylish combo that I’m totally into.

How do you combine points in projects where sports and art intersect?

To me, blending sports and art just makes sense; they’re both creative in their own way and all about expressing yourself. It’s all about telling a story. I get inspired by the movements and emotions of athletes and I use that to make artwork that really captures the vibe. My aim is to make projects that show how sports and art come together and hopefully inspire people to get creative in everything they do.

What does Bahar’s bucket list look like? What are you excited to do but haven’t had the opportunity to yet?

My bucket list is like a never-ending flow of ideas, mixing old dreams with new sparks that keep me super excited. Some ideas have been hanging around in my head for ages, while others just popped up recently.

One thing I’m especially excited about is a project I’m planning on doing with my mom. She taught me how to embroider, passing down a skill that her own mother taught her. Now, we’re planning on teaming up to create something really special. I can’t reveal all the details just yet, but just know it’s going to be beautiful.

Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi

Filmed and Edited by Umutcan Öncü

Fashion Direction by Murat Şentürk

Content Editors Belgin Demirhan, Tunga Yankı Tan

Music by Salih Alkan

All looks by Nike