Contemporary Istanbulâ€™s 11th Edition a Success as Collectors Show Solidarity with the Fair

1,500 artworks by 520 artists, exhibited by 70 leading and emerging galleries from over 24 cities across 20 countries

Contemporary Istanbul brought together leading contemporary art galleries from Turkey and around the world, giving a regional and international focus to the dynamic contemporary art scene that has developed in Istanbul in recent decades. The 11th edition ended on November 6, having seen strong support from philanthropists, collectors and the public, strengthening the fairâ€™s vision of solidarity at this time.

Notable for its unique position both geographically and culturally, CI pays undivided attention to Turkish contemporary art and also prides itself on bringing together galleries, artists and collectors from the entire region including the Caucasus, the Black Sea, the former Russian Federation and the Middle East, as well as other countries from around the world. This year, CI presented 1,500 artworks by 520 artists, exhibited by 70 leading and emerging galleries from over 24 cities across 20 countries.

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Presented for the first time at the fair is Collectorsâ€™ Stories, an exhibition of artworks personally selected by 60 collectors from their private collections. Also new this year was CI Design, which focused on functional art and unique design pieces and was directed by Susan McMurrain. We also have to mention two other sections: Solo Shows, curated by a single artist or artist group; and the fairâ€™s programme of talks CI Dialogues. Dedicated to showcasing new media artworks, Plugin gathered galleries, architecture and design studios focusing on new media related initiatives.

Contemporary Istanbul 2016, Collectors' Stories / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Ali GÃ¼reli, CIâ€™s Chairman said, â€œWe are enthusiastically celebrating Contemporary Istanbulâ€™s 11th anniversary this year. Istanbul inspires those of us who organise the fair and has the fundamentals of a global city, both in terms of the volume of art it hosts and the environment that sustains it. After facing a difficult year across the region, we have realised that to position Istanbul as an even stronger hub for culture, we have to work more closely alongside other institutions, museums, galleries and key players in the industry. As of 2017, we have therefore decided to change dates of CI to the second week of September to coincide with the opening of the Istanbul Biennial, founded and organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, as well as other important art events in the city. We believe our individual efforts will be enhanced through collaboration and that mutual support during these challenging times is essential for culture to thrive. We hope our combined efforts will create an even stronger date in the art world calendar for Istanbul. Over the past 10 years we have established a market within a sector that has received international recognition. Istanbul has drawn attention as an important player in the art world through the organisation of major exhibitions - the most prominent being the Istanbul Biennial. The city has also seen a rapid opening of museums and galleries as well as a growing art fair calendar, partly due to the impact of CI.â€

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

The fair attracted 90,000 visitors with 62% of exhibited artworks sold. Sales included:

Jaume Plensa, White Forest (Lou), â‚¬280,000, Galerie Lelong, Paris

Janis Kounellis, Untitled, â‚¬220,000, Galeri Artist, Istanbul

Stiller, Matchstickman, â‚¬130,000, Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris/Beirut

Wim Delvoye, Untitled (Pasion), â‚¬110,000, Galeri Artist, Istanbul

Fahrelnissa Zeid, Untitled, USD 100,000, Galeri Artist, Istanbul

Son Seock, 25-RHNO, â‚¬38,000, Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris/Beirut

GÃ¼lay SemercioÄŸlu, A Sip of Water, USD 50,000, Pi Artworks, Istanbul/London

Christiaan Lieverse, Labiatae, â‚¬38,000, Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona

Niloufar Banisadr, Voiles aux vents, â‚¬25,000, Galerie 55 Bellechasse, Paris.

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

This year, the fair launched the Best Curated Booth Award which was won by Istanbul-based emerging gallery The Pill. CI Artistic Advisor Marc-Olivier Wahler states: "There is an identifiable, strong and positive movement over recent years in the Turkish art world that cannot be stopped, and CI has an integral role in this. Art provides a visual narrative and a lens through which our society can be understood through different perspectives. Especially in Turkey and the region, contemporary art acts as a toolbox for mental hygiene and this makes the fair even more relevant on an international stage.â€

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

After a difficult year across the region, CI realises that to position Istanbul as an even stronger hub for culture, the fair has to work even more collaboratively alongside other arts organisations. As of 2017, the fair will take place in the second week of September during which Istanbul will host various significant art events.

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Ali GÃ¼reli, CIâ€™s Chairman, states: â€œWe believe our individual efforts will be enhanced by working together and that mutual support during these challenging times is essential for culture to thrive. We hope our combined efforts will create an even stronger date in the art world calendar for Istanbul. Over the past 10 years we have established a market within a sector that has received international recognition. Istanbul has drawn attention as an important player in the art world through the organisation of major exhibitions - the most prominent being the Istanbul Biennial. â€œ

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Gallery Responses

â€œI believe the number of visitors set a new record and a large number of notable collectors attended the fair. The audience enjoyed the fact that there were fewer galleries exhibiting. I feel quite content with the sales as well as the possibilities for us to meet new and young collectors. Collectorsâ€™ Stories was also a great addition to the fair this year.â€ (Moiz Zilberman, Founder, Gallery Zilberman, Istanbul/Berlin)

â€œWe had museum directors and individual buyers considering purchasing works from our artists as well as discussing possible new commissions. CI is one of the strongest fairs we have participated in, in terms of quality and number of attendees. We look forward to coming back and love Istanbul. It is of course a very tough time for the whole world, but people from Turkey faced those difficulties in solidarity which we find very impressive.â€ (Bertrand Scholler, Founding Partner, 55 Bellechasse, Paris)

Contemporary Istanbul 2016 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

â€œThis yearâ€™s CI has proven that the current political landscape in Turkey has not dampened the spirit and enthusiasm of art lovers and collectors from Turkey and the region.â€ (Can Yavuz, Director, Yavuz Gallery, Singapore)

â€œWe have participated in Contemporary Istanbul in its 11th year and will also certainly come back in 2017. We have sold various artworks by all of our artists and there was a lot of engagement from visitors as well. Notably we sold Kemal Seyhanâ€™s works to a collector from New York and also made lots of other sales amongst which were a work to a London-based and another to Bahrain-based collector. We also met new younger collectors which I believe is very important.â€ (YeÅŸim TuranlÄ±, Director, Pi Artworks Director, Istanbul/ London)

â€œWe are very happy with the response of the city and improvement of the fair. The reduction in the number of exhibitors has proved to be impactful in terms of flow and quality. It is very impressive to see people engaged with creativity and coming to the fair to support art during these turbulent times.â€ (Carlos Duran, Director, Galeria Senda, Barcelona)

â€œThis yearâ€™s crowd was sophisticated and curious, and enjoyed both our group and solo shows. They were highly intellectual, and I feel very satisfied. Turkish audiences appreciate both the emerging and well established artists exhibited at the fair and this is fantastic.â€ (Yashian Schauble, Founder, ACAF Projects, Shanghai)

â€œOur experience of the fair was perfect. The sales by international collectors has increased dramatically and we have had the chance to meet various new people. We are also very glad and honoured that our artist Ardan Ozmenoglu was awarded with the artist residency program provided by Basu Art Foundation at the fair.â€ (Sera Sade, Director, Galeri Siyah Beyaz, Ankara)

â€œCI has proven to be a very productive and strong fair for us in terms of the feedback we have received. It was also an opportunity to get to know the public and establish a close relationship with local collectors. We are extremely proud to see that we could introduce our gallery at such a short time since we opened 6 months ago. It has been a great motivating factor to continue under the turbulent circumstances.â€ (Suela Cennet, Director, The Pill, Istanbul)

â€œContemporary Istanbul still proves to be the most vivid example that the public wants to experience art. The fact that tens of thousands of people visited the fair and followed the art and artists also shows the lack of important museums in Istanbul. We hosted thousands of art enthusiasts in our gallery and informed the visitors about the exhibited artworks, as well as made a number of sales. We have participated in Contemporary Istanbul for the last 5 years since the galleryâ€™s establishment and the fair has become an indispensable part of our calendar.â€ (Oktay Duran, Founder, Art On Istanbul, Istanbul)