Istanbul's Art Scene Faces Institutional Crisis and Grassroots Resistance
Over the last six months, Istanbul's cultural institutions have experienced significant upheaval, marked by shifts in leadership and demands for greater transparency. The controversy surrounding the 2024 Istanbul Biennial erupted in August 2023 when the Culture and Arts Foundation (İKSV) appointed Iwona Blazwick, bypassing the selected curator Defne Ayas, leading to the resignation of several committee members. In October, four artists withdrew from the biennial, expressing worries about artistic freedom. Bige Örer stepped down as biennial director, with Kevser Güler taking over on 5 January. Additionally, Levent Çalıkoğlu resigned as chief curator of Istanbul Modern in August 2023, amidst protests regarding access hours. A forum in January attracted 120 attendees who discussed pathways for reform, with younger professionals emphasizing the need for transparency.
Key facts
- The Istanbul Biennial's 2024 curator selection sparked controversy in August 2023 when İKSV appointed Iwona Blazwick over Defne Ayas.
- Four artists withdrew from the 18th Istanbul Biennial in October 2023, citing demands for transparency and artistic freedom.
- Levent Çalıkoğlu resigned as chief curator of Istanbul Modern in August 2023 after 11 years, with reports of disagreements over acquisitions.
- A protest in December 2023 at Istanbul Modern involved over 5,500 signatures against shortened free access hours.
- A forum at Bahçe Galata in January gathered 120 culture workers to discuss institutional irregularities and protest strategies.
- Esra Sarıgedik Öktem resigned as curator of Turkey's Venice Biennale pavilion in August 2023 due to a conflict of interest.
- The crisis follows Turkey's May 2023 elections, which extended Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's rule for another five years.
- Kevser Güler was appointed as the new Istanbul Biennial director on 5 January, replacing Bige Örer.
Entities
Artists
- Defne Ayas
- Iwona Blazwick
- Agustin Pérez Rubio
- Selin Ansen
- Sarkis
- Bengü Karaduman
- Ateş Alper
- Kerem Ozan Bayraktar
- Yaşam Şaşmazer
- Nilbar Güreş
- Deniz Gül
- Halil Altındere
- Aslı Çavuşoğlu
- Gülsün Karamustafa
- Banu Cennetoğlu
- Zeyno Pekünlü
- Marina Papazyan
- Beral Madra
- Kaya Genç
- Köken Ergun
- Merve Elveren
- Duygu Demir
- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
- Ayşe Erkmen
- Melih Fereli
- Hou Hanru
- Jack Persekian
- Adriano Pedrosa
- Jens Hoffman
- Ute Meta Bauer
- Amar Kanwar
- David Teh
- Ayşe Erek
- Yuko Hasegawa
- Agustín Pérez Rubio
- Levent Çalıkoğlu
- Selen Ansen
- David Kazanjian
- Wendy Meryem Kural Shaw
- Rakel Dink
- Hrant Dink
- Bige Örer
- Kevser Güler
Institutions
- Istanbul Biennial
- Istanbul Modern
- Culture and Arts Foundation (İKSV)
- Urban
- Milliyet
- Büro Sarıgedik Gallery
- Venice Biennale
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Argonotlar
- Bahçe Galata
- British Council
- SALT
- Depo
- Silivri Prison
- ArtReview
- Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation (IKSV)
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Sanatatak
- Kunsthalle Baden-Baden
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Turkey)
- Cumhuriyet
- Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)
Locations
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- Venice
- Italy
- Bosphorus
- Galata
- London
- United Kingdom
- Baden-Baden
- Germany