This edition brings together 90 contemporary art galleries from 20 countries, along with art institutions in addition to special exhibitions. 3000 contemporary artworks belonging to 526 local and global artists will be exhibited in the six edition of Contemporary Istanbul, more than 60.000 visitors are expected for the fair.
CANAN will present her brand new works from her upcoming exhibition, ‘Turkish Delight' opening on December 22nd at x-ist. In this new series the artist reinterprets well known ‘odalisque' or ‘Harem Interiors' produced by Male Western Orientalist painters, as has become her nom-de-plume she uses her herself as the subject matter in producing this critique.
One of the strongest young photography talents coming out of Turkey, Ali Taptık presents a triptych photograph, titled "Possibility of a Suicide - Three Sections of a Moment" which captures a moment of a suicide attempt in Taksim Square, Istanbul in 2009. This particular work is important in that the artist doesn't evaluate the moment only as a product of time but also a product of space. The works of Ali Taptık are also included in a special group show, "T(here)" curated by Selin Turan for the Contemporary fair.
Burhan Kum will participate in the fair with his brand new work, ‘The Harem' from his upcoming exhibition ‘Digital Darkness' which opens in March 2012 at x-ist. The premise of the exhibition focuses on the invasive and manupulative power of digital technology in our visual vocabulary. Where, if the document/image is not as desired, a change/manupulation can be made by using digital technologyand can be presented us as the truth itself today. Kum presents us this artificial realityproduced through various techniques of digital technologies.
Ansen is another important name x-ist will present in Contemporary İstanbul' 11. Ansen will meet the audience with his brand new work ‘Operations Room'. Through his striking light box work, Ansen satirizes the feeding, shaping and destruction power of Western countries on the Middle Eastern countries.
Seda Hepsev, well known for her ironic and humorous portraits, presents her brand new works; 'The Family Souvenoir' at the fair. She focuses on the contradiction ofour luxury value perception and consumption by creating jewelry from sausages and salamis.
Sinem Dişli presents her brand new works from her current solo show, ‘Imprint' at Han 38.Sinem Dişli's works focuses on feelings of abandonment and estrangement by questioning issues of identity. Dişli explores the leftovers, ceded objects, what is believed to return to live in a new form after its disappearance in nature and the adaptation coming from change through her works.
The premier work from Gözde Türkkan's brand new series, Full Contact a series realised in the Far South East in 2011 will be previewed at the fair prior to her upcoming show in January. The series focuses on use of male-female bodies and their commercial re-appropriation, where Türkkan documents go-go dancers, B-girls and Muay Thai fighters in her latest series.
Nalan Yırtmaç, who focuses her attention on urban transformation and the diminishment of neighborhood culture, will present her new work, The Circumcised Boys Wearing Masks making use of acrylic and stenciling over cloth at the fair.
Cem Dinlenmiş was twenty-one years old when he began drawing for one of Turkey's most important critical humor magazines, Penguen, in 2006. It didn't take too long for people to take notice, developing like a supernova he quickly became regarded as a talented artist and and important critic of the political, social and daily issues of Turkey. He participates in the fair with his brand new work ‘New World', a story of rebirth and rejuvenation.
Ali Elmacı, who responds to societal concerns and daily experiences through intimate portraits, focuses on social interactions of eating habits. His brand new work, ‘The Fare III' will be presented at the fair. With his new work, Elmacı criticizes celebrity diets brought up by media to create anunblemished female model in the society.
The young artist, Erkut Terliksiz, well known for his expressionist paintings and figures bringing together real and subjective worlds isanother important name x-ist will present at the fair. He will present his brand new works, Evolution I, Evolution II and Evolution III making use ofacrylic on card-board, canvas and ink on paper.Mehmet Güleryüz, regarded as one of the most influential and important living painters in Turkey today, will participate in the fair with his work Strip-Poker. Also, Banu Birecikligil, SENA and Serkan Adın are other important names x-ist will present in Contemporary Istanbul'11.