Contemporary Istanbul 2018: Market Challenges Amid Turkish Lira Crisis
The 13th edition of Contemporary Istanbul took place from September 20-23, 2018, at the Istanbul Congress Center, featuring 83 galleries from 22 countries. Chairman Ali Güreli acknowledged the severe impact of the Turkish lira's depreciation (nearly 30% against the dollar and euro) on purchasing power and the art market, though the fair continued to grow through a Gallery Support program. The selection of national galleries was criticized for kitsch tendencies, with notable stands including Archeus / Post-Modern (London) featuring Enrico Castellani and Andy Warhol, Nosbaum Reding (Luxembourg), Plan B (Cluj and Berlin), Galeri 77 with Gurgen Babayan and Daron Mouradian, and Galerist with Burcu Yagcioglu and Rasim Aksan. Political and social commentary was largely absent, with exceptions like RED Art and Zilberman Gallery. Special projects included Plug-in for new media, sponsored by Siemens, and 'Excuse My French,' a curated section of eleven French galleries by Marc-Olivier Wahler.
Key facts
- 13th edition of Contemporary Istanbul held September 20-23, 2018 at Istanbul Congress Center
- 83 galleries from 22 countries participated
- Turkish lira depreciated nearly 30% against dollar and euro, impacting purchasing power
- Ali Güreli is chairman of the fair and Contemporary Istanbul Art Culture and Education Foundation
- Gallery Support program provided financial assistance to some galleries
- Italian galleries included Antonio Colombo, Eduardo Secci, Alberta Pane, Galleria Continua, Liquid Art System
- Notable stands: Archeus/Post-Modern (London), Nosbaum Reding (Luxembourg), Plan B (Cluj/Berlin), Galeri 77, Galerist
- Special projects: Plug-in (new media) sponsored by Siemens, and 'Excuse My French' curated by Marc-Olivier Wahler with 11 French galleries
Entities
Artists
- Ali Güreli
- Volkan Aslan
- Emre Yusufi
- Laurence Jenkell
- Matthias Verginer
- Nilbar Gures
- Enrico Castellani
- Maria Apollonio
- Andy Warhol
- Richard Prince
- Gheorghe Ilea
- David Nuur
- Gurgen Babayan
- Daron Mouradian
- Mikayel Ohanjanyan
- Burcu Yagcioglu
- Rasim Aksan
- Johann Louw
- Halil Altindere
- Zlad Antar
- Katerina Belkina
- Stephen Chambers
- Sean Molloy
- Ioan Sbarciu
- Pavel Grosu
- João Vilhena
- Marc-Olivier Wahler
- Marco Enrico Giacomelli
Institutions
- Contemporary Istanbul
- Contemporary Istanbul Art Culture and Education Foundation
- Central Bank of Turkey
- Antonio Colombo (gallery)
- Eduardo Secci (gallery)
- Alberta Pane (gallery)
- Galleria Continua
- Liquid Art System
- Pi Artworks
- Galeri Baraz
- Artmedy
- Mark Hachem
- Marlborough
- C24 Gallery
- Archeus / Post-Modern
- Nosbaum Reding
- Plan B
- Galeri 77
- Galerist
- SMAC
- RED Art
- Zilberman Gallery
- Pilot (gallery)
- Almine Rech
- Ethan Cohen (gallery)
- Faur Zsófi (gallery)
- Atelier Rose&Gray
- Gibbons & Nicholas
- Sector 1
- Siemens
- Antoine Levi (gallery)
- Art: Concept (gallery)
- Jocelyn Wolff (gallery)
- Artribune
Locations
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- Ankara
- Istanbul Congress Center
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- Venice
- Italy
- San Gimignano
- Capri
- Positano
- Anacapri
- New York
- United States
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Vallauris
- Luxembourg
- Cluj
- Romania
- Berlin
- Germany
- Cape Town
- South Africa
- Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch
- Budapest
- Hungary
- Manchester
- Dublin
- Ireland
- Bucharest
- Brussels
- Belgium