Standing bright red among the vines, Goddess of Harvest reflects the deep connection between Quinta do Quetzal and the land that sustains it. Created by artist Müge Yilmaz, the figure draws from ancient symbols of fertility and agriculture – echoing early earth goddesses who celebrated the cycles of growth and renewal.
The sculpture originates from Yilmaz’s original drawing for the label of Quetzal’s very first ARTE wine. The goddess is seen often in the work of Yilmaz and draws its inspiration from a multitude of ancient references, most notably Neolithic hieroglyphics from Anatolia and artifacts with mythological or symbolic significance. Seen through a feminist lens, the figure is a hybrid being – part plant, part animal, part human – echoing cave drawings, ancient statuary, and archetypal icons of earth and fertility goddesses.
The Goddess of Harvest was already present in the exhibition Echoes of Our Stories at the Quetzal Art Center, where she was hidden within the sculpture Goddess Theory (Moonclock). This piece, alongside Goddess Theory (Ophanim and Moonclock, 2022), envisioned a matriarchal future inspired by archaeological sites such as the 9,000-year-old Çatalhöyük in central Anatolia. The work consisted of two monumental wooden structures – floating beacons in the exhibition space – emerging from a feminist science-fiction narrative written by Yilmaz. In this imagined future, the last survivors of an unknown catastrophe are women who have preserved the traditional knowledge of how to live in harmony with nature.
Now permanently placed in the heart of the vineyard, Goddess of Harvest symbolizes the enduring bond between Quinta do Quetzal and the land. Her presence speaks not only to cycles of growth and renewal but also to the estate’s commitment to regeneration, biodiversity, and honouring tradition while looking toward the future. The sculpture invites all who encounter her to pause, reflect, and reconnect – with the land beneath their feet and with the layered histories that shape it.
Müge Yilmaz (1985 Istanbul, Turkey) is a visual artist based in Amsterdam whose work explores the paradoxes of protection and preservation, often focusing on community, survival, and belief. Through sculptural installations and performances, she creates immersive environments inspired by feminist science fiction. Her work speculates on future worlds by reimagining mythologies of the past, creating powerful visual narratives that blend nature, history, and alternative futures.
Location: permanently on view in the vineyards of Quinta do Quetzal.
