Optimism in the age of global war
The 10th International Istanbul Biennial, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, will be open in the city from September 8 - November 4, 2007.
The biennial will focus on urban issues and architectural reality as a means of exposing different cultural contexts and artistic visions regarding the complex and diverse forms of modernity. The current mutation of the global art scene reflects the restructuring of the world order prompted by the inventions and realizations of different maternities and modernisation projects beyond the traditional hegemonic vision of the West. This tendency is naturally the focus of the upcoming Istanbul Biennial when it attains its 10th edition. The unique context of Turkey as one of the earliest non-Western modern republics and its geopolitical position as a gateway between Europe and Asia provide a perfect location and momentum for artistic and cultural explorations of such an issue. It represents aspiration and optimism – it’s a kind of realizable utopia.
The Biennial seeks to become a site of real life, providing places for people to rest, sleep and dream, during their night trajectories across the city… a project called "Dream House" will be realized with site-specific works by various international artists to allow the public enjoy transcendent moments of dreaming: it’s not only possible but also necessary to envision a better world. Optimism is a necessary spirit for us to survive this age of global war |
DAY 1 (L, D)
Morning arrival to Istanbul.Transfer to the Ritz Hotel for your check in.
Light lunch will be served at the hotel.
Welcome briefing in the hotel. Meet your fellow travelers, local guides and your Biennial Tour Director.
Free time to prepare for the Welcome cocktail& Dinner cruise.
Welcome by a “Jazz Trio” on the private boat. Welcome cocktail will be served on the upper deck, followed by an open buffet barbecue dinner. The Bosphorus is a great source of pride to Istanbul’s residents and one of the city’s most important sources of transportation. It also provides a scenic means of viewing both the European and Asian sides of this fascinating city.
Overnight at Ritz Hotel.
DAY 2 (B,L,D)
Lecture on the History of the Ottoman Empire at the hotel conference room.
Visit the Topkapi Palace & Harem. This former residence of the Ottoman Sultans houses a fine exhibition of porcelain, jewelry, silverware, glassware, clocks and Ottoman weaponry, royal treasures and was once the home to the world’s largest harem.
Lunch will be served at the Konyali Restaurant on the grounds of the Topkapi Palace.
Curator guided visit of the Turkish Islamic Arts Museum featuring Ottoman miniatures, Iznik tiles, ceramic and Turkish tapestries.
Visit to the Grand Bazaar; most attractive and crowded shopping center in the world, with it’s nearly 4.000 shops and stalls, selling mostly jewelry, artifacts, carpets and leather goods.
Private dinner at the Feriye Restaurant / Ortakoy
Overnight at Ritz Hotel.
DAY 3 (B, L)
Departure from our hotel to visit the Hagia Sophia, the World’s oldest wonder church. Built as the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, later converted into a mosque, today one of the worlds most favourite museums.
Rest of the day will be spared to the visits of the biennial exhibits scattered throughout the city. The Ataturk Cultural Centre ( AKM ), representing the dream of the republic and modern society, will be a venue for utopian projects with urban focus.
The İMÇ Buildings, a unique and remarkably successful modernist achievement in İstanbul’s architectural history, will be a site for exploration of the economic and productive aspect of modernity as "world factory".
The Antrepo site that has been successfully incorporated by the previous Biennials will be conceived of as an "Entre-polis", and will be a site for projects focusing on trans-national migration, communication and borderlines. Articulating the notion of "polis", it also represents necessities of remapping the world beyond the logic of nation-states.
The santralistanbul site which is going through an ambitious renovation process, will act as a laboratory, an educational area and as a workshop environment. It is also a space for exchanges amongst self-organizational art initiatives in different parts of the world, especially those from Turkey and neighboring regions.
Referring to "Dazibao", a form of radically democratic street postings of public opinions during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, an "Electronic Image Dazibao", which consists of contributions of video works from professional and amateur artists via an open call and selected by a group of Turkish young curators, will be set up and travel across different sites during night time. On the other hand, a series of performing art events will be accordingly organized to provide an even more open and public dimension to the Biennial.
Remainder of evening and dinner on your own.
Overnight at Ritz Hotel
DAY 4 (B)
Departure transfers to the Istanbul Airport will be arranged after breakfast and check out.
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