Sarkis's Anti-Retrospective at Istanbul Modern During the 11th Biennial

The 11th Istanbul Biennial, titled "What Keeps Mankind Alive?" and curated by WHW (Ivet Ćurlin, Ana Dević, Nataša Ilić, Sabina Sabolović), took place from September 12 to November 8, 2009. Showcasing the work of 70 artists, the event highlighted contributions from female and non-Western creators. It marked a shift towards the repoliticization of contemporary art, with pieces focusing on themes of armed conflict and governmental authority. Among the featured artists were Tamás St-Auby and Vyacheslav Akhunov. The biennial faced criticism for its didactic approach and use of 1960s methodologies. Simultaneously, Istanbul Modern hosted Sarkis's "Site," curated by Levent Çalıkoğlu, from September 11, 2009, to January 10, 2010, showcasing 150 unlabelled posters and a metronome aligned with his heartbeat, promoting immersive spatial engagement.