İstanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern, a.k.a. Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, (Turkish: İstanbul Modern Sanat Müzesi) is a contemporary art gallery located inside the Galataport complex in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Inaugurated on December 11, 2004, Istanbul Modern was Turkey's first modern and contemporary art gallery and focuses on Turkish artists. It is a private venture under the umbrella of the nonprofit Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.[1]

Istanbul Modern
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
Istanbul Modern designed by Renzo Piano
İstanbul Modern is located in Istanbul
İstanbul Modern
Location of Istanbul Modern
EstablishedDecember 11, 2004 (2004-12-11)
LocationBeyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey
Coordinates41.02660°N 28.98436°E / 41.02660; 28.98436
TypeContemporary art museum
ChairpersonOya Eczacıbaşı
ArchitectRenzo Piano
Websitewww.istanbulmodern.org

As of 2004, Oya Eczacıbaşı serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.[2]

History

Early beginnings

Funded by two corporations – the Eczacıbaşı Group and Doğuş Group-Bilgili Holding –, Istanbul Modern opened in a 8,000 m2 (86,000 sq ft) former government customs warehouse in the Karaköy neighbourhood in 2004,[3][4] after a $5 million renovation overseen by Tabanlıoğlu Architects.[5]

Alexander Vallaury building

From 2018 to 2022, during the construction of its new building, the Istanbul Modern collection was temporarily relocated to the former Union Française building in Beyoğlu, designed in 1896 by Alexander Vallaury.[6]

Renzo Piano building

On 4 May 2023, Istanbul Modern reopened in a new building close to its original location in Karaköy.[7] The five-story, 10,500 m2 (113,000 sq ft) building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.[8]

The new building offers various exhibition halls as well as educational workshops, a cinema, a library, a design shop, event spaces, and a café and restaurant.

Collection

Istanbul Modern's permanent collection comes from the Eczacıbaşı family, and is supplemented with long-term loans from the İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum and from Deutsche Bank.[9] The Turkish bank, Turkiye Is Bankasi, is another large source with its collection of 2,500 paintings.[10]

Exhibited artists

The Istanbul Modern is predominantly a gallery devoted to Turkish art since the latter half of the 20th century, although it does also include a few older works. Turkish art from its earliest days until the 20th century can be seen in the nearby İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum.

Major Turkish artists whose work can be seen at the Istanbul Modern include:

Istanbul Modern also includes the work of a few international contemporary artists too. Runner (2017), a white sculpture by sculptor Tony Cragg, greets visitors in front of the entrance.[11]

Controversy

In 2011, eight prominent artists pulled their work in response to claims the museum had rejected a piece by David “Bubi” Hayon for a charity auction. The work was a large seat with a bedpan in the middle, said to be a non-political criticism of the concept of museums.[12]

See also

References
  1. Susan Sachs (3 January 2005), In Istanbul, Creating a Space for Modern Art New York Times.
  2. "International interest in Istanbul Modern: Prime Minister Erdoğan inaugurated the museum". Eczacibasi.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  3. Osman Can Yerebakan (21 September 2022), Long-awaited Istanbul Modern museum nears completion The Art Newspaper.
  4. David Belcher (13 June 2023), Istanbul Modern Reopens in its New, Renzo Piano-Designed Home New York Times.
  5. Susan Sachs (3 January 2005), In Istanbul, Creating a Space for Modern Art New York Times.
  6. Talya Arditi (27 July 2018). "Beyoğlu: Home to Istanbul Modern's New Temporary Location". Culture Trip.
  7. "Istanbul Modern opens new museum building". Hürriyet Daily News. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  8. David Belcher (13 June 2023), Istanbul Modern Reopens in its New, Renzo Piano-Designed Home New York Times.
  9. Susan Sachs (3 January 2005), In Istanbul, Creating a Space for Modern Art New York Times.
  10. Susan Sachs (3 January 2005), In Istanbul, Creating a Space for Modern Art New York Times.
  11. Daniel Boffey (18 December 2022), Top British sculptor hits back in censorship row over loan to Turkish gallery The Guardian.
  12. Daniel Boffey (18 December 2022), Top British sculptor hits back in censorship row over loan to Turkish gallery The Guardian.
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