10th International Istanbul Biennial
Central Istanbul + Gecekondus (photo by Amal Cavender 2005) (see here)
Not Only Possible, But Also Necessary:
Optimism in the Age of Global War
"Turkey, as one the of first non-western modern republics and a key player in the modernization of the developing world has proved to be one of the most radical, spectacular and influential cases in this direction. But, a fundamentally crucial problem is that the modernization model promoted by the Kemalist project was still a top-down imposition with some unsolvable contradictions and dilemmas inherent within the system: the quasi-military imposition of reforms, while necessary as a revolutionary tool, betrayed the principle of democracy; the nationalist ideology ran counter to its embracement of the universality of humanism, and the elite-led economic development generated social division."
(...)
"In today´s geopolitical reality, it is necessary and urgent to deal with the question of modernization. Urbanization, or explosive urban expansion in the Istanbul fashion, is the most visible and significant sign of modernization. Exploring the urban and architectural conditions of Istanbul has hence become a starting point and a central reference to the conception of this Biennial. And contemporary art as an avant-garde in cultural experiments should engage with the city, and it is through this engagement that the biennial will acquire fresh energy and significance in a new reality. The biennial should become a laboratory for innovative projects and strategies, and a site for experiments and productions with different, multiple models of modernization."
(...)
"In such a debate, artistic actions, including the Biennial itself, can certainly find their roles in prompting cultural and social changes through innovative forces of intervention -a form of the urban guerrilla. Facing this infinitely dynamic, complex and exciting reality of a metropolis, artists and other creators are highly inspired to mobilize their imaginations and creativities."
Text by curator: Hou Hanru (see here)
Main events at 10th Istanbul Biennial
Burn it or not? + World factory + Entre-Polis + Dream House + NightComers + Special projects
8 Sept - 4 Nov 2007 (see here)