New horizons

Contemporary Istanbul 2011 finds greater resonance on the world art scene as it captures the renaissance sweeping through Turkey, highlighting the position of art and culture in the city.It is time for the sixth Contemporary Istanbul art fair. And it is bigger than last year — extending from the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre to the next-door Istanbul Congress Centre — and showcasing 3,000 contemporary artworks created by 550 national and international artists. The event highlights the position of art and culture in the Turkish capital and approaches the heterogeneous tastes of its multicultural audience. Artists and art lovers have responded by converging on the city for four days to immerse themselves in contemporary paintings, sculptures, videos, photographs, installations and limited editions. At presstime, more than 1,000 collectors had confirmed their attendance.Among the participants are 89 contemporary art galleries from 20 countries, including the hosts, with their exhibitions, art initiatives, independent projects and publications along with art institutions. Contemporary Istanbul, which aims to be among the Top 10 art fairs of the world in the next three years, is for the first time hosting galleries from Dubai, such as Etemad Gallery, XVA Gallery and Empty Quarter Gallery, in its New Horizons section, along with the FA Gallery from Kuwait and EOA Projects from Saudi Arabia. Each artwork at the fair has a unique visual language and transports viewers from the land of reality to the fanciful kingdom of art. Some of the artworks can be effortlessly interpreted and provide the audience an instant feeling of connection. Others, however, remain distinctly abstract, and yet engaging.Weekend Review spoke to two Turkish artists participating in the fair. Azade Köker has travelled the globe and already showcased her art in the US, Japan and Europe."Art is a visual, philosophical phenomenon," she said. "It varies, depending on the environment in which it is produced. The status, neighbourhood, political conditions and anthropological view all make a difference. Classifications — such as in law, where there is criminal law or labour law — are not valid for artists today. Therefore, even biographers of the artists struggle to explain their art. No one can really summarise it in a single sentence."