The countdown for the 18th edition of Contemporary Istanbul has begun…
Contemporary Istanbul is one of the most important fairs that opens its doors to both the national and international art world and reflects the universality of art and the cultural diversity of Istanbul since 2006. Organized annually in Istanbul, the event brings together national and international artists and galleries covering various fields of contemporary art. By bringing painting, sculpture, photography, video art, installation, and many other art disciplines together with art lovers and collectors, it continues to be an event that positions Istanbul as a center of art. It also offers a prestigious opportunity for interaction, taking into consideration the dynamics of the art community.
Usually held in indoor venues such as the Istanbul Congress Center or Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center, Contemporary Istanbul has been hosted by Tersane Istanbul for the past three years. With its two-kilometer coastline, this neighborhood, known as the longest beach in Istanbul where you can get close to the sea, was created at one of the city's important points and opened to visitors with the fair. Tersane Istanbul has become a favorite place for many visitors for this event with its interactive interior and exterior spaces.
The 18th Contemporary Istanbul, which will be held under the main sponsorship of Akbank, will be open to the public from September 26 to 27 with VIP screenings and from September 28 to October 1. Sixty-seven contemporary art galleries, four initiatives, and four art institutions from 22 different countries are participating in the fair. Among the interesting names on the list, 33 of which are national galleries, are Gallery Siyah Beyaz, Pilevneli, Gallery x-ist, Pg Art Gallery, Pi Artworks, Piramid Sanat, Sevil Dolmacı Art Gallery, C.A.M. Gallery, Dirimart, Gallery 77, Bozlu Art Project, and BüroSarıgedik. Zilberman (Istanbul & Berlin), Pi Artworks (London & Istanbul), Mariana Custodio Gallery (Lisbon & Istanbul), Collect Gallery (Sofia & Istanbul), Anna Laudel (Düsseldorf & Istanbul) are among the international galleries also operating in Istanbul.
Below, we have briefly mentioned some of these interesting participants.
Galeria Joan Gaspar
Known for introducing artists such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró to Barcelona, the gallery was founded in 1909 as a gallery dedicated to the avant-garde artists of the time. Between 1972 and 1991, it operated under the direction of Sala Gaspar. The gallery continued to promote modern art and created a space for new artists who established themselves over time. These include Igor Mitoraj, Etienne Krähenbühl, Jean-Baptiste Huynh, and Concha Sampol. The gallery collaborates with museums and cultural institutions, contributing to both public and private exhibitions. Igor Mitoraj's "Centurione screpolato" is of particular interest in the exhibition space.
Piramid Art Gallery
Piramid Art Gallery is an art center founded by artist Bedri Baykam in Taksim. It welcomes artists from all over Turkey and organizes interdisciplinary, multimedia exhibitions, showcasing videos, installations, sculptures, and paintings. The gallery's artists who will be exhibiting at the 18th Contemporary Istanbul include Ertuğrul Akyüz, Şevval Başalan, Bedri Baykam, Denis Gökduman, Genco Gülan, Mustafa Karyağdı, Mehmet Özenbaş, Erdo Sam, and Ceren Selmanpakoğlu.
Aspan Gallery
Since its establishment, the gallery has been organizing important exhibitions, featuring artists specializing in contemporary Central Asian art. It stands out with its contribution to the development of the art community, especially in the geographic region where it is located, by supporting contemporary art through its publications and exhibitions. At the fair, you can see the works of Askhat Akhmedyarov, Nurbol Nurakhmet, and Rashid Nurekeyev, who are artists represented by the gallery.
Bavan Gallery
The gallery is one of the most important galleries aiming to showcase Iranian contemporary art to the whole world. For this purpose, the gallery provides ample space in its exhibitions for contemporary artists who have made an impact in Iran. Among the artists exhibiting this year are Samaneh Abri, Maryam Amirvaghefi, Kamran Diba, Leila Ghandchi, Zahra Ghyasi, and Ahoo Hamedi. To get an impression of the gallery's perspective, take a look at "On-The-Line" by Kamran Diba.
Bogena Galerie
Bogena Galerie is a French gallery based in France and the US. The gallery, which started operating in Japan at the end of the 90s, showcases its multidisciplinary and expressive attitude in various ways by incorporating different branches of art, such as music and literature. This year, the gallery will present works by Monique Frydman, Nathalie Deshairs, Harry Morgan, Jeff Bertoncino, Jaume Plensa, Carl Dahl, James Coignard, and Youssef Douieb.
Galeri 77
Galeri 77, one of the galleries that we are accustomed to seeing with successful artists at art events, is also taking part in the 18th Contemporary Istanbul. The main aim of the gallery is to contribute to the creation, exhibition, and dissemination of new, different, and original works of art to a wide audience, as well as to serve as a source for academic research with its artist catalogs and books. The artists to be featured are Aras Alekian, Karen Arakel, Narek Arzumanyan, Gayane Avetissian, Roman Babakhanian, Gurgen Babayan, Vahram Davtian, Bayram Demir, Armen Gevorkian, Sedat Girgin, Hakan Gürbüzer, Vav Hakobyan, Mehmet Resul Kaçar, Roman Kakoyan, Mesut Karakış, David Martirosyan, Rafael Megall, Daron Mouradian, Ani Qananyan, Armén Rotch, Kirkor Sahakoğlu, Arthur Tonakanyan, Halil Sercan Tunalı, and Gago. You can also see "Two Figures in a Blue Room" by Vav Hakobyan, the gallery's most notable artist.
SANATORIUM
Sanatorium, which hosts critical and experimental projects, continues its innovative attitude on national and international platforms and supports collaborative, independent art formations with art meetings, talks, and performance works. At the 18th Contemporary Istanbul, works by Gizem Akkoyunoğlu, Kerem Ozan Bayraktar, Erol Eskici, Çağla Köseoğulları, Yağız Özgen, Zeyno Pekünlü, Berkay Tuncay, and Clemens Wolf will meet art lovers.
Gallery FURIOSA
Since its establishment in 2021, the gallery has been attracting attention with its simple and innovative exhibition methods and experimental works. The gallery also aims to bring young people in Mexico into the art world and train a new generation of collectors. It organizes projects that bring together renowned artists and curators. The gallery's work has been featured in many international exhibitions and has become well-known among collectors. This year, the gallery will present works by Silvestre Bastian, Alejandro Galvan, Angela Leyva, Dennis Miranda, and Rodrigo Ramirez. You can get an idea of the gallery's approach by viewing "No Temas Donde Vayas Que Has De Morir Donde Debes" by Alejandro Galvan.
INLOCO Gallery
The gallery aims to bring together street artists to showcase their vision through pop-up and open-air projects. It highlights inner-city art and urban contemporaneity in the broader context of art, presenting it in unexpected locations. To get a sense of the vision shared by this group of street art enthusiasts and the ever-changing audience, be sure to check out Dusto's "Untitled". The gallery will feature works by Ivan Ilinskii, Maxim Ima, Sergei Krasavin, Sasha Trun, DUSTO, Turben, and Xeato. Among the exhibited works, Dusto's "Untitled" stands out.
SISTEMA GALLERY
The gallery's mission is to discover and promote new talents in the Russian and international art world. It is dedicated to supporting artists and helping them gain exposure through participation in museum events, biennials, awards, and fairs. One of the current exhibitions is titled "Alternative Methods of Mobility" by Alina Kugush. The gallery represents artists including Suigir Buluktaev, Misha Buryi, Alina Kugush, Samuill Marshak, Slava Nesterov, and Sasha Puchkova.
SODA Istanbul
SODA supports contemporary art jewelry, which is a rising trend in the world, focusing on artists and designers from different disciplines, using different materials and media. SODA brings together artists and designers who make a difference in their field and examples of contemporary movements with an audience open to innovation and aims to give collectors a new perspective. You can see works by Alain Darre, Seo Young Deok, Marta Fabregas, Christophe Jacrot, Gerard Mas, Frank Plant, Efraim Rodriguez, Samuel Salcedo and Derrick Santini at the 18th Contemporary Istanbul.
Den Art Gallery
In 2021, Gülden Bostancı opened Antalya's sole contemporary art gallery. The gallery's mission is to support emerging artists in Antalya and provide a platform for artists from various provinces to connect with art enthusiasts. Notable artists represented by the gallery at the fair include Deniz Karakurt Şekerci, Baki Bodur, Baran Kurtoğlu, Ertuğrul Güngör, and Faruk Ertekin.
CI Photo Focus
One of the highlights of Contemporary Istanbul this year is the CI Photo Focus team. This group recognizes the significance of photography in contemporary art and will present their work under the guidance of Simone Klein. The main objective is to foster a vibrant dialogue between artists and visitors, promoting interactive communication among the audience.
Akbank Sanat
Akbank Sanat will host the "Şaka" exhibition curated by Hasan Bülent Kahraman, the BMW Electric AI Canvas project, the LG OLED ART project, and CIF Dialogues by İGA ART, which draws attention with its different concepts every year. You can access the list of speakers with content and guests specific to the theme or that year on social media platforms.
Artworks Also Decorate the Outdoors
As part of the 18th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, which primarily takes place in indoor gallery spaces, there are also captivating works displayed in the outdoor area of the event space. Curated by Marc Oliver Wahler, The Yard showcases sculptures and installations. The "Sustainable Art" collection, sponsored by Tosyalı Holding, presents an installation where various industrial objects are recycled into unique works, delighting art lovers.
Like every year, art lovers have been eagerly anticipating Contemporary Istanbul for months. The countdown to the fair, which will be held at Tersane Istanbul and will feature a wide range of art, talks, installations, and visitors, is in full swing on social media platforms. You can purchase your tickets for this popular art event online or at the fairgrounds.
For more information, please visit the website of Contemporary Istanbul.