Vasif Kortun to Leave SALT Istanbul in 2017 Amid Political Tensions

Vasif Kortun, director of SALT in Istanbul, announced he will step down from his role as director of research and programs in 2017. The news follows a tense political climate after the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. Kortun had previously told AFP in August that Turkey had become a difficult place to live, especially for artistic practice requiring freedom of speech. SALT, founded in 2011 by Garanti Bank, comprises three exhibition spaces including one in Ankara, with locations near Galata Tower and on Istiklal Caddesi. Kortun will remain on the board and plans to release a statement at year-end. Associate director November Paynter has also resigned. Salt Beyoğlu was closed by the government for 'technical reasons,' including a complaint against the renovation of its 19th-century building, as reported by Artforum. Meriç Öner, an internal curator, is rumored to succeed Kortun after his six-year tenure. Kortun had previously noted that undercover police could interrupt a film screening questioning why it showed Kurdish guerrillas, and that even working within an institution to protect new ideas does not guarantee safety.