Istanbul Biennial dramatically scaled back after Gezi Park protests, confined to four indoor venues

Originally planned for public spaces like Gezi Park and Taksim Square, the 13th Istanbul Biennial was reduced by approximately 80 percent and relocated to four indoor locations: Antrepo 3, Galata Greek Primary School, Salt Beyoğlu, and Arter. Curator Fulya Erdemci cited unwillingness to collaborate with authorities who used tear gas against citizens during the Gezi Park protests as a reason for the shift. The biennial's theme, 'Mom, Am I Barbarian?', references Turkish poet Lale Müldür's book and explores uses of public and social space. Works include Thomas Hirschhorn's timeline of outdoor interventions, LaToya Ruby Frazier's photographs of Braddock's decay, Santiago Sierra's proposal for an invisible monument, and documentation of Mierle Laderman Ukeles' interactions with New York workers. At Arter, Cinthia Marcelle's video 'Confronto' shows fire jugglers blocking traffic, while Halil Altındere's music video 'Wonderland' features Roma youth from Sulukule. Other artists include Agnieszka Polska and Basim Magdy. The biennial faces contradictions, as sponsor Koç conglomerate is linked to the construction projects protesters opposed. Despite tight curation and effective thematic connections, the event feels compromised by its diminished scale, reflecting Istanbul's ongoing struggles with gentrification and neoliberal urban policies. One local academic remarked the biennial might as well not exist. The event occurred in 2013.