Semiha Berksoy's 'Aria of All Colors' at Istanbul Modern
Istanbul Modern is showcasing 'Semiha Berksoy: Aria of All Colors,' which features more than 200 pieces by the Turkish artist Semiha Berksoy (1911–2004) and will be on display until September 6, 2026. Berksoy's diverse talents were shaped by the loss of her mother to the Spanish flu when she was just seven. A significant work, 'My Mother the Painter Fatma Saime' (1965), remains in her family’s collection. She made her acting debut in Turkey's inaugural sound film in 1931 and studied voice in Berlin, becoming the first Turkish opera singer to achieve success in Europe. The exhibition showcases costumes, sketches, archival footage, and a refrigerator door featuring a portrait of her daughter Zeliha. Despite facing ostracism, Berksoy persisted in her art, with a retrospective planned at Hamburger Bahnhof in 2025.
Key facts
- Semiha Berksoy was born in Istanbul in 1911 and died in 2004 at age 93.
- She lost her mother to the Spanish flu at age seven.
- Her most famous work is 'My Mother the Painter Fatma Saime' (1965).
- She debuted in Turkey's first sound film in 1931, playing a feminist.
- She was the first Turkish opera singer to succeed in Europe after studying in Berlin.
- She helped found the Ankara Opera and performed Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Il Trovatore, and Fidelio.
- Art historian Deniz Turker described Berksoy as a 'celebrated dramatic soprano, painter, sculptor, actress, costume designer, and performance artist.'
- The exhibition 'Aria of All Colors' runs from January 22 to September 6, 2026 at Istanbul Modern.
- The exhibition includes over 200 works, including paintings, costumes, sketches, and a refrigerator door portrait.
- Berksoy's works were shown at the 51st Venice Biennale in 2005 and the 60th in 2024.
- A retrospective 'Singing in Full Color' was held at Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart in Berlin in 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Semiha Berksoy
- Fatma Saime
- Deniz Turker
- Zeliha Berksoy
- Ercüment Siyavuşgil
- Frida Kahlo
Institutions
- Istanbul Modern
- Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
- Ankara Opera
- Venice Biennale
- Artribune
Locations
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- Berlin
- Germany
- Ankara
- Venice
- Italy
- Kılıç Ali Paşa Mahallesi, Tophane Iskele Caddesi, Beyoğlu-İstanbul