Spotlight on ArtInternational Istanbul 2013

Sureyya Wille September 11, 2013 ShareShare This Article

Basim Magdy, Time Hole, 2012, steel, enamel, E14 TV blue light bulbs and electric wiring, artSümer, Istanbul, Turkey

Giovanni Ozzola, Untitled, 2013, bell with handwritten text, Gazelli Art House, London, UK

ArtInternational Istanbul opens for the first time at the Haliç Congress Center in the district of Beyoglu in Istanbul, Turkey, and runs September 16–18. It was co-founded by art fair maven Sandy Angus, the same man that co-founded Art Basel Hong Kong in 2008 as well as Art13 London earlier this year, and is a shareholder and director of the India Art Fair. VIP Card holders will have the opportunity to preview the vast selection of exhibitors on the afternoon of Sunday, September 15 from 2–5 p.m., and are later invited to attend and enjoy live music at an exclusive party on the pier of the Golden Horn, considered to be the world’s largest natural harbor.

Marwan Sahmarani, Horoub (4), 2012, watercolor, ink, varnish, oil stick, and textile, Lawrie Shabibi Gallery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The fair seeks to increase the dialogue between local and international galleries and collectors. ArtInternational Istanbul has carefully crafted a program involving local foundations, museums, and historical sites across the city, inviting visitors to take in both the rich cultural history Istanbul has to offer, as well as the thriving Contemporary Art scene.

Ahmet Elhan, Fragile 003, 2013, chromogenic print, Galeri Zilberman, Istanbul, Turkey

Be sure to look out for By the Waterside, an exhibition on display on the pier overlooking the Golden Horn at the entrance to the fair, with outdoor installations by Tony Cragg (British, b.1949), Arik Levy (Israeli, b.1963), Richard Hudson (British, b.1957), Saad Qureshi (British, b.1986), Huseyin Bahri Alptekin (Turkish, 1957–2007), and Saddek Wasil (Saudi Arabian, b.1973).

Hadieh Shafie, 22300 Pages, 2013, ink, acrylic, and paper, Leila Heller Gallery, New York, NY

In conjunction with ArtInternational Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city will also host the 13th edition of the International Istanbul Biennial which has taken place every two years since 1987. This year’s installment, “Mom, am I barbarian?” focuses on the theme of public space as a political forum—a very prevalent subject for Turks in recent months.