Gülsün Karamustafa to Represent Türkiye at 60th Venice Biennale with Installation Addressing Devastation

Gülsün Karamustafa will represent Türkiye at the 60th Venice Biennale, running from 20 April to 24 November 2024, with an installation in the Sale d’Armi at the Arsenale. Her work explores themes of emptiness, brokenness, and devastation turned ordinary, inviting visitors to connect with the installation before viewing a looped film depicting a world transformed into a battlefield. Production involved three global locations: Istanbul, Venice, and China, where specific materials were sourced. Karamustafa began developing ideas in September 2023, with components now assembled at La Biennale. She reflects on Venice's historical significance as an old harbor linked to Byzantine and Ottoman empires, including conflicts from 1296 to 1718, and notes the city's enduring captivation despite her frequent visits since the 1990s. The artist emphasizes the Biennale's role as a global platform offering artistic challenge rather than mere visibility, and she anticipates curator Adriano Pedrosa's theme 'Foreigners Everywhere' will yield rich encounters. Karamustafa does not create with a specific audience in mind, focusing instead on personal connotations and medium selection. She recalls past debates on national versus universal art, suggesting contemporary technology has shifted such discussions. During production, she valued time with Murano glassworkers for their solidarity and perfection, and she looks forward to revisiting Torcello's church, last seen in 1990.