-Ivan-Navarro-2012.jpg) |
| Ivan Navarro, Odio (Brick); 2012. 181.5 x 82 cm. Neon light, mirror, one-way mirror, bricks and electric energy |
This year’s 7th edition of Contemporary Istanbul attracted over 68.000 visitors travelling
from across the world, from the Middle East, the United States, UK, Europe and Asia,
including major collectors, artists, international gallery and fair directors
and journalists.
Mr. Ali Güreli, Chairman of the fair said: “The
mission of CI as spreading the knowledge and interest in contemporary art to a
wider audience and making İstanbul the hub of contemporary art since 2006. The
representatives of the galleries who came to visit the fair this year showed a
big interest in participating next year. The fair has made a big success by
means of sales and interest. About two hundred people from foreign press
visited the fair. By mean of collectors, Turkish collectors are more decisive
and eager to buy, which of course effected the sales. Group of local foreign collectors
made big acquisitions for the big collections. In the meantime we are happy to
announce the launch of two
new satellite fairs coinciding with Contemporary Istanbul in 2013, with a
focus of photography and new media
and emerging artists and galleries”.
He also added that “it is highly significant to attract the first most
important five thousand art environment to Istanbul”.
Prof. Hasan Bülent Kahraman, the general
coordinator of CI mentioned, “The new initiatives about contemporary art have
become obligatory because of Istanbul’s importance of the art market. Turkey is
living its peak moments in contemporary art. We are pleased to both be having
galleries from the Balkans and the galleries from The Netherlands which shows
us we are in the right place and the right time’.
102 contemporary art galleries
from 27 countries - including important international galleries Marlborough
Gallery, Haunch of Venison, Andipa Gallery, Opera Gallery, Galerie Michael
Schultz, MAM-Mario Mauroner Contemporary Art, Cordeiros Galleria as well as local
galleries; Dirimart, Rampa, Galeri Mana, Rodeo, Galerist - exhibiting and
selling work by 612 artists were very positive about the outcome, reporting
strong sales of works at every price range from $550 to over $5.2 million.
While total amount of the exhibited works was more than $100 million, 66% of
these more than 2.500 works on display were sold. “Portrait of Barbara Molanksy”
by Andy Warhol-$ 5.2 million in Cordeiros Galeria, “Logo” by Jean Michel
Basquiat-$3,2 million in Opera Gallery, “Woman on Horse” by Botero-$ 700.000 in
Marlborough Gallery and “Untitled” by Roy Lichtenstein-$ 1,5 million in Andipa
Gallery were amongst the highest valued artworks exhibited at
the fair
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| Manolo Valdes, Mariposas dorados IV, 2011. 99.06 x 243.84 x 91.44 cm. Brass |
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| Jan Fabre, Golden Human Brain Angel Wings; 2011. 22 x 30.5 x 26 cm. Silicone bronze, 24 carat-gold |
Malborough Gallery New York has arrived in
Istanbul for its first appearance at CI - and was immediately taken with the
city’s art connoisseurs. “There’s an enthusiasm I didn’t really expect,” said
the gallery’s director Michael Gitlitz. “Most people have a concept of Istanbul
culture being about old ancient [places] and minarets but there’s a strong contemporary
energy. The crowd skews younger than I’m used to and I’m surprised by how eager
young collectors are to be part of the scene - and to create a scene. As
Marlborough Gallery we have reached a satisfying sale but we are not really
into the sales numbers but the network that we have already started to built here
in Istanbul”. Pierre Levai, the president of Marlborough Gallery mentioned that
they plan to build a new strategy focusing on Istanbul in the coming days
A special lower-ground floor project area,
dedicated to the New Horizons section, art
initiatives and solo projects. New Horizons showcasing works by artists
from the Central and Eastern Europe, including paintings, installation pieces,
photography and video art was well attended. Contemporary Istanbul, continued
its art initiative projects, begun last year, with the admission of 10
initiatives this year; most of the the projects prepared for CI by these
initiatives were exhibited for the first time.
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| Patricia Piccinini, Ghost, 2012. 70 x 54 x 40 cm. Silicone, fiberglass, human hair. |
This year, on occasion of the 400th anniversary
of Turkey-Netherlands relations, Contemporary Istanbul organized a program under
the rubric of ‘Art from the Netherlands’. Realized with the support of Royal
Netherlands Embassy and Mondriaan Foundation, the program hosts eight galleries
from the Netherlands, Akıncı, Amstel, Expeditie Zsa- Zsa Eyck, Gabriel Rolt,
Ron Mandos, Grimm, Maurits van de Laar and West.
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| Hale Tenger, Give me Back my Innocence; 2005-2012. 40.5 x 40.5 x 119 cm. Crystal Shoe, Velvet and Polyester Pillow, Glass Bell Jar, Corian Plinth |
The comprehensive CI dialogues programme, which
included talks about art from the Netherlands, the dynamics of art in central Eastern Europe
and the relation between institutions, economy and art was well received by
art critics, gallery directors and the general public. Pierre Levai (President,
Malborough Gallery - New York), Simon de Pury (Co - Founder, Philips de Pury -
London), Joseph Kosuth (Artist - New York), Yane Calovski (Artist, Press to
Exit Project Space - Skopje) were amongst the speakers of dialogue program.
Contemporary Istanbul is supported by main sponsor
Akbank Private Banking and associate sponsors Zorlu Center and Yıldız Holding.
Parallel to the fair, from November 19th-25th,
Contemporary Istanbul launched its first Art Week, Art Istanbul. More than 50
organisations – including museums, foundations, galleries and cultural
organisations including the Istanbul Foundation of Arts and Culture (IKSV),
Istanbul Modern, Salt, Arter, Borusan Contemporary and Akbank Art – came
together and opened their doors to the fairs international visitors.
Event highlights included artist talks by the
Ivan Navarro (῾Light at the End of
the Tunnel’ Egaren Gallery) and Șener Ozmen (Pilot Galley) an exhibition tour by artist
Erinç Seyman (RAMPA Gallery) and the opening of polish artist Pawel Althamer’s
first solo show in Turkey (Mana Gallery)
Next year’s Contemporary Istanbul will take
place between November 7th-10th, 2013 and the next
edition of Art Istanbul will be organized from November 4th-10th,
2013, parallel to Istanbul Biennial and Contemporary Istanbul
For more information please visit
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