"Collectors from across Europe, the US and Turkey converged at the opulent Tersane Istanbul complex-a restored Ottoman shipyard overlooking the Golden Horn-for the opening of Contemporary Istanbul (CI, until 28 September) on Tuesday. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the fair brought together 51 galleries from 16 countries. This year's edition coincided with the Istanbul Biennial, which drew a larger crowd of collectors and museum groups compared to the previous year."
"The fair showed stronger quality than its early iterations, with works by leading Turkish artists such as Nil Yalter, Güneş Terkol and Azade Köker on view. Many booths displayed fabric and ceramic-based pieces alongside paintings, with prices spanning €1,000 for young emerging artists to above €2m for a monumental James Rosenquist painting, previously exhibited at the Guggenheim Museums in New York and brought by the local gallery Sevil Dolmaci."
"Spirits were high at the fair but Turkey's socio-political climate remains sensitive. Since the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu earlier this year, protests have continued in parts of the country. Yet Ali Güreli, the chairperson and founder of Contemporary Istanbul, and founder of The Art Newspaper Turkey remains optimistic about the country's art scene. "We should be calm," he says, adding that it's also essential to be "radical and clever.""
Contemporary Istanbul celebrated its 20th anniversary at the restored Tersane Istanbul shipyard, bringing together 51 galleries from 16 countries and drawing collectors from Europe, the US and Turkey. The fair coincided with the Istanbul Biennial, increasing attendance from collectors and museum groups. Galleries presented higher-quality works than in earlier years, including pieces by Nil Yalter, Güneş Terkol and Azade Köker. Exhibits ranged from fabric and ceramic works to paintings, with prices from about €1,000 to over €2 million for a James Rosenquist monumental painting. Despite political tensions and growing censorship, local artists and galleries continued to present socially engaged and critical work.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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