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Adorning the historic district of Tersane Istanbul is the 18th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, the leading art fair in the region and a major platform connecting artists, galleries, and collectors from the world over. Set to take place from September 28 - October 1, 2023, on the grounds of a former Ottoman-era shipyard on the shores of the Golden Horn, Contemporary Istanbul 2023, with STIR as a media partner, will feature an impressive roster of 75 galleries as well as initiatives from 22 countries.
A strong line-up of galleries from Europe and the Middle East will join leading ones from South America, Africa, East Asia, and the USA, as part of its anticipated showcase. The VIP preview for the upcoming edition of Contemporary Istanbul will be held from September 26 - 27, 2023.
Among the 75 featured galleries, 21 will be participating for the first time, including the 4710 Gallery (Tbilisi), Arma Gallery (Madrid), FURIOSA (Mexico City), IBI ART Gallery (Johannesburg), Karpuchina Gallery (Prague), BFM Art Center (Suzhou City), Bogena Galerie (Saint Paul de Vence), Omelchenko Gallery and SISTEMA GALLERY (Moscow), INLOCO Gallery and Sconci Gallery (Dubai), and Callirrhoë (Athens).
Other galleries partaking in the event include .artSümer, PILOT, and Galeri 77 (Istanbul), 193 Gallery (Paris), Bavan Gallery (Tehran), Gallery Schmidt (Zurich), C24 Gallery (New York), Pi Artworks (London, Istanbul), AB Gallery (Seoul), and Galeria Joan Gaspar and Galeria Senda, (Barcelona). The art festival's initiatives comprise Ka Atölye (Ankara), Noks Art Space and KOLİ Art Space (Istanbul), and Kıyı Projects (Antalya), while participating institutions include Baksı Museum (Bayburt), Borusan Contemporary, Contemporary Istanbul Foundation and Taksim Sanat (Istanbul).
The official website of Contemporary Istanbul relays—"Launched in 2006, it is committed to showcasing exceptional contemporary art and advancing new ideas. Strongly rooted in the rich local context, the fair actively contributes to the dynamic culture of Istanbul and supports its creative industries. Through new initiatives and multiple collaborations with Turkish and international partners, Contemporary Istanbul is aiming to shape the future of art in the region."
CI Photo Focus
CI Photo Focus, a platform for modern photography that brings together photographers, galleries, and magazines to investigate the expanding interest in the creative medium, will debut at Contemporary Istanbul this year. Led by Simone Klein, a former advisor at Photo London and the head of the European Photography Department at Sotheby's London and Paris, CI Photo Focus will display works by 20 international contemporary artists along with staging an exhibition presenting works from the Bousan Contemporary’s private photography collection. The selection committee for this year's CI Photo Focus includes Ansen, Coşar Kulaksız (photographer and curator), Kumru Eren (managing director, Borusan Contemporary), Leyla Ünsal (co-founder of Versus Art Projects), Sarp Kerem Yavuz (artist) and Tony Ventura (collector).
The Yard
Presented at the outdoor courtyard of Contemporary Istanbul, The Yard, curated by Marc-Oliver Wahler, director of Le Musée d’art et d’histoire (MAH) in Geneva, and former director of Contemporary Istanbul, will present its third edition at the art fair. The outdoor art exhibition will present sculptures, videos, and art installations conceived by international artists themed around industrial design and their interaction with the outdoors.
CIF Dialogues
CIF Dialogues by IGA ART is Contemporary Istanbul's talks series, which will run from September 27 - 29, 2023. The talk panels will be centred on three main subjects of 'CI Photo Focus,' 'Art in Public Spaces,' and 'Art in Residence.' Led by Marc-Olivier Wahler, a three-day talks programme will focus on 'Art in Public Spaces' and 'Art In Residency,' while Simone Klein will moderate a talks panel discussing 'The Past, Present, and Future of Photography Market.'
The venue of the 18th Contemporary Istanbul, Tersane Istanbul in Turkey, is a 'spectacular architectural landmark and a historical gem' situated on the Golden Horn, used by the Ottomans as imperial shipyards, and dating back to the 15th century. Award-winning firm Tabanlioglu Architects recently carried out renovations of the historical buildings of Tersane for the upcoming art event. "Transport to the fair by sea will run from September 26 - October 1, 2023. Provided by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Lines, the service will provide access to Hasköy Pier departing from Kadıköy, Üsküdar and Beşiktaş which is 500 meters from Contemporary Istanbul’s location at Tersane," the official press statement states.
The 18th edition of Contemporary Istanbul will take place from September 28 - October 1, 2023, at Tersane Istanbul, Turkey.
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