Dubai galleries among participants in upcoming Contemporary Istanbul fair
An artwork from Sconci Gallery, Dubai.
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Contemporary Istanbul (CI, 2023) has announced the gallery line-up plus innovative programming for its 18th edition (Sept. 28 – Oct. 1), with two preview days on September 26 and 27. Taking place at the historic district of Tersane Istanbul, on the grounds of a former Ottoman-era shipyard on the shores of the Golden Horn, the fair features 75 galleries and initiatives from 22 countries. A line-up of galleries from Europe and the Middle East is joined by leading galleries from South America, Africa, East Asia and the USA.
Twenty one galleries are participating for their first time, including two from the UAE: INLOCO Gallery, Dubai; Sconci Gallery, Dubai; 4710 Gallery, Tbilisi; Arma Gallery, Madrid; Aspan Gallery, Almaty; BFM Art Center, Suzhou City; Bogena Galerie, Saint Paul de Vence; Callirrhoe, Athens; FURIOSA, Mexico City; IBI ART Gallery, Johannesburg; IN THE GALLERY, Mallorca; Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg; Karpuchina Gallery, Prague; Lazy Mike Gallery, Riga; Maze Art Group, Tehran; Omelchenko Gallery, Moscow; Rıdvan Kuday Gallery, Diyarbakır; SGR Galeria, Bogota; SISTEMA GALLERY, Moscow; The Why Not Gallery, Tbilisi and Yvonne Hohner Contemporary, Karlsruhe.
Among other participating galleries are Leila Heller, Dubai; Galeria Joan Gaspar, Barcelona; Galeria Senda, Barcelona; Gallery Schmidt, Zurich; HOFA, London; IBI ART Gallery, Johannesburg; KAIROS, Istanbul; Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg; Karpuchina Gallery, Prague and Lazy Mike Gallery, Riga. Initiatives come from Ka Atolye Ankara; Noks Art Space, Istanbul; KOLI Art Space, Istanbul and Kıyı Projects, Antalya. Institutions include Baksı Museum, Bayburt; Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul; Contemporary Istanbul Foundation, Istanbul and Taksim Sanat, Istanbul.
New to CI this year is CI Photo Focus, a platform dedicated to contemporary photography that brings together artists, galleries and publications to explore the growing interest in photography. Overseen by Simone Klein, previously the Head of European Photography Department at Sotheby’s London and Paris, and a former advisor at Photo London, CI Photo Focus showcases works by 20 international artists and will stage an exhibition presenting works from the Bousan Contemporary’s private photography collection. This year’s CI Photo Focus selection committee includes Cosar Kulaksız (photographer and curator), Kumru Eren (Managing Director, Borusan Contemporary), Leyla Unsal (Co-Founder of Versus Art Projects), Sarp Kerem Yavuz (artist) and Tony Ventura (collector).
Staged at CI’s outdoor courtyard, The Yard is curated by Marc-Oliver Wahler, the Director of Le Musee d’art et d’histoire (MAH) in Geneva, and former CI director. The third edition of the exhibition presents sculpture, video, and installation works by international artists themed around industrial design and their interaction with the outdoors. Running September 27 - 29, CIF Dialogues, CI’s talks programme, centres around three main themes: CI Photo Focus, Art In Public Spaces and Art in Residence. A three-day talks programme led by Marc-Olivier Wahler will focus on Art in Public Spaces and Art In Residency. Simone Klein will moderate a talks panel discussing The Past, Present, and Future of Photography Market.
The historical buildings of Tersane have been recently renovated by the award-winning firm Tabanlioglu Architects. Transport to the fair by sea runs September 26 - October 1 and is being provided by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Lines. The service will provide access to Haskoy Pier departing from Kadıkoy, Uskudar and Besiktas, which is 500 metres from CI’s location at Tersane. While every city has a downtown, Istanbul has many! Sprawling past the borders of its Historical Peninsula around the 18th century, Istanbul has grown into a multi-centered global metropolis straddling both Europe and Asia. The city’s true heart, though, has remained the fabled inlet called Halic (or the Golden Horn).
After serving as a hub for industrial production for centuries, Halic is returning to its essence as the centre of good living and good learning. The naval shipyards have undergone an inspiring transformation and an all-star team of architects have revived a 600-year-old legacy and returned it to the city as the new charming waterfront neighbourhood of Istanbul. Tersane Istanbul’s total plot area is 242,000 square metres with 150,000 square metres of open spaces. Its coastline is two kilometres long. Besides Sadberk Hanım Museum and the Museum of Women’s Culture, Tersane Istanbul also has an Event Hall, an Open Air Concert Space and art galleries that hosts several cultural events from art fairs, exhibitions and auctions, to concerts and fashion festivals.
Contemporary Istanbul is one of the leading art fairs in the Mediterranean region and a major platform connecting artists, galleries, and collectors from around the world. Launched in 2006, it showcases contemporary art and strives to advance new ideas. Rooted in its local context, the fair contributes to the dynamic culture of Istanbul and supports its creative industries. Through new initiatives and multiple collaborations with Turkish and international partners, CI aims to shape the future of art in its region, which includes the Greater Middle East and North Africa.
Ali Gureli is the Chairman of Contemporary Istanbul. Preceding Contemporary Istanbul, Gureli founded and was the Chairman of the first contemporary art fair in Turkey, Art Istanbul, from 2001 to 2005. One of the founders of TUROB (Hotel Association of Turkey), Gureli served as the President of the association from 1994 to 2001 and was the Board Member of The Marmara Hotels group from 1989 to 2002. Currently he is the Chairman of the Board of The Sofa Hotels & Resorts. CI is also continuing its decade-long collaboration with flag carrier Turkish Airlines. The art fair’s main partner Akbank.
