Preview day: 13th September 2017

Exhibition dates: 14th – 17th September 2017

Contemporary Istanbul (CI) has announced its final exhibitors list for the upcoming 12th edition of the fair which is supported by Akbank. New for 2017 is a revised fair design by the award-winning architects Tabanlıoğlu Architects who will create CI Park. The fair will also feature a new sculpture exhibition The Fifth Element at the neighbouring Artists’ Park, curated by Prof. Hasan Bülent Kahraman. A place to discover and rediscover significant artists, CI will spread over the 13,600 m2 spaces of Lütfi Kırdar ICEC Rumeli Hall and Istanbul Congress Center.

CI brings together leading contemporary galleries, artists and collectors from Turkey and around the world, giving a regional and international focus. Reflecting the role of Istanbul as a centre point between East and West, CI is an international art platform at the heart of Turkey’s thriving contemporary art scene. CI strongly believes in the critical role of art as a catalyst for dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation.

New participating galleries:
44A, Istanbul / Anna Laudel Contemporary, Istanbul / AB-ANBAR, Tehran / Andakulova Gallery, Dubai / ARCHEUS/POST-MODERN, London / Bernheimer Contemporary, Berlin / Galerie Dix 9, Paris / EASTWARDS PROSPECTUS, Bucharest / Flowers Gallery, London, New York / Galleria Continua, San Gimignano, Beijing, Les Moulins, Habana / Gallery 1957, Accra / Heavenlymade Gallery, Izmir / INDA Galéria, Budapest / Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London / Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, New York / Magic Beans, Berlin / Maximillian William, London / N2 Galería, Barcelona / Nicodim Gallery, Bucharest, Los Angeles / NK Gallery, Antwerp / Parasite, Tel Aviv / Pilevneli Gallery, Istanbul /Plan B, Cluj, Berlin / Shirin Gallery, Tehran, New York / SMAC Gallery, Cape Town / Sophia Contemporary, London / Triangle Art Space, Tel Aviv / Victoria Miro, London / Vigo Gallery, London.

Returning participating galleries:
ALAN Istanbul, Istanbul / 55Bellechasse, Paris, Miami / AB Gallery, Seoul / ACAF, Shanghai / Aria Art Gallery, Florence / Art On, Istanbul / Bozlu Art Project, Istanbul / C.A.M. Galeri, Istanbul / C24 Gallery, New York / Cep Gallery, Istanbul/ Dastan’s Basement, Tehran / Dirimart, Istanbul / Gaia Gallery, Istanbul / Galeri 77, Istanbul / Galeri Baraz, Istanbul/ Galeri Binyıl, Istanbul/ Galeri Miz, Istanbul / Galeri Nev, Istanbul / Galeria Joan Gaspar, Barcelona / Galerist, Istanbul / Gama Gallery, Istanbul / Gazelli Art House, London, Baku / Isabel Croxatto Galeria, Santiago / Karavil Contemporary, London / KRANK Art Gallery, Istanbul / LICHT FELD, Basel / Liquid Art System, Capri, Istanbul / Mark Hachem Gallery, Paris / Marlborough Gallery, New York / MERKUR Gallery, Istanbul / Mixer, Istanbul / Olcay Art, Istanbul / Öktem&Aykut, Istanbul / PG ART Gallery, Istanbul / Pi Artworks, Istanbul, London / Piramid Sanat, Istanbul / Project ArtBeat, Tbilisi / Red Art, Istanbul / SANATORIUM, Istanbul / Galeri Siyah Beyaz, Ankara / Víctor Lope Arte Contemporáneo, Barcelona / Villa Del Arte Galleries, Barcelona / X-İst, Istanbul / Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul, Berlin.

2. Plugin New-Media Section
In its fifth year, this section is dedicated to new media art at the intersection of science and technology. Curated by Ceren and Irmak Arkman for the third time, Plugin is a future-friendly extension of CI under the sponsorship of Siemens Home Appliances.

This section’s curated exhibition titled Natura Nova will present new media art examining conceptions of space, time and culture and the impact that digital technology has wrought, also aiming to speculate and envisage what the future may hold. Participating artists include: Félix Luque, Memo Akten, onformative, Ryoichi Kurokawa, Semiconductor, Joanie Lemercier, Lia, FIELD, Sougwen Chung, İdil İlkin, Aziz + Cucher, Quayola.

Siemens Home Appliances will have a dedicated booth showcasing emerging talents from the digital art world. In line with the "Exciting Possibilities" motto of the brand, the artworks by Can Büyükberber and Marpi showcase the nature of new media as an innovative field that redefines preconceptions around art and its cultural impact. The opening performance featuring visuals by Marpi and music by Islandman will focus on the distinctive relationship between new media art and music.

This year’s CI Dialogues, the fair’s discussion and talk series, will mainly focus on the topic of “Movement” from the artistic perspective. This theme will be discussed in relation to different disciplines that constitute the essence of daily human life, such as technology, architecture, space, and food. Inviting key personalities from related sectors, the program will bring together academicians, architects, artists, and professionals to review the state of contemporary art along with its relation to other creative industries and daily life. All talks will be held on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th of September.

Talks programme:
- Art & Technology: Human Aesthetics in Future Technologies

This panel will examine current debates on aesthetics and will explore the nature of art, beauty and taste as well as the current developments in this branch of philosophy as heralded through the advancements of robotics and artificial intelligence. Thursday 14th September 14:00 – 15.30 Ahmed Elgammal (Professor at Rutgers University, Founder and Director of the Art and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) with Jussi Parikka (New Media Theorist and Professor, Technological Culture & Aesthetics Winchester School of Art) Moderator: Alain Servais (Contemporary Art Collector, Designer and Founder of Registr’art)

- Art & Technology II: New Technologies In Art

This panel will focus on the ever-increasing interpolation between technology and new media art and discuss how it impacts and transforms the relationships involved in the production, distribution, consumption and appreciation of art. Thursday 14th September 16:00 – 17:00 Juliette Bibasse (Creative Producer, Curator) with Onformative (Digital Art and Design Studio), Marpi (Digital Artist) and Michael Kass (Facilitator, Coach, Speaker and Storyteller) Moderator: Ceren Arkman (Creative Producer, Curator)

- Art & Collecting: Creating an Artistic Memory: Art Collection

Art collections are as distinct as the collector. This panel will discuss how an art collection is an act of self-expression, the impact it has on artists, building collections and the trends, and strategy and motivations behind art acquisition. Thursday 14th September 17:30 – 18:30 Nick Hackworth (Director, Modernforms) with Kate Bryan (Head of Collections, Soho House Worldwide) and Hasan Bülent Kahraman (Vice Rector at Kadir Has University, Executive Committee Member of Contemporary Istanbul) Moderator: Arzu Maliki (Bloomberg HT)

- Art & Food: The Interconnected Art of Taste

Key panellists will discuss the developing cuisine culture and the art of taste as well as the impact of food in the visual arts throughout the centuries. Friday 15th September 14:00 – 15:00 Rainer Becker (Founder, Roka, Zuma, Oblix) with Kaya Demirer (President TURYID Executive Board and CEO and Founding Partner Frankie) and Vedat Başaran (Chef and Food Culture Researcher) Moderator: Sinem Ceren Çerçiler (Founder and CEO, Inside Counsels)

- Art & Architecture: Movement in Space

Key speakers will consider the impact of architecture through the centuries and the way it has both defined and been defined by the arts and culture. Friday 15th September 15:30 – 16:30 Anabela Macieira (Founder and CEO, Core Architects) with Nicola Borgmann (Architekturgalerie München President and Founding Partner) Moderator: Murat Tabanlıoğlu (Architect, Tabanlıoğlu Architects Founding Partner)

4. The Fifth Element
Istanbul’s first ever outdoor contemporary sculpture exhibition in a public park is organised by Contemporary Istanbul. This will be held in Artists’ Park adjacent to the fair. Using Tabanlıoğlu Architects’ concept as its point of departure, The Fifth Element is curated by Prof. Hasan Bülent Kahraman and is conducted in collaboration with the Şişli Municipality. Participating artists include: Erdağ Aksel, Jan Fabre, Wim Delvoye, Genco Gülan, Günnür Özsoy, Jannis Kounellis, Johan Tahon, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Osman Dinç, and Tony Cragg.

5. Contemporary Istanbul celebrates its 12th year with CI Publications’ first book, Collectors’ Stories.
CI’s Collectors’ Stories project gathered for the first time artworks selected by 60 of Turkey’s prominent private contemporary art collectors from their personal collections. Comprised of 120 pieces exhibited in a 1,500 m2 space at CI 2016, the exhibition attracted great attention. The Collectors’ Stories Book is published with the support of Barbaros Reserve Residences in Bodrum following the success of this exhibition. The Book will be launched at the 12th edition of CI and will be seen at Barbaros Reserve Residences Lounge at the fair. The Collectors’ Stories Book will be an invaluable guide for a new generation of art collectors and art lovers and will be distributed across leading art organizations and institutions worldwide.

6. Contemporary Istanbul celebrates its 12th edition with the 12th BMW Art Car.
BMW’s official distributor in Turkey Borusan Otomotiv co-sponsors CI for the first time for its 12th edition. Borusan Otomotiv will exhibit the 12th BMW Art Car, created in 1991 by South African artist Ester Mahlangu, at the fair.

The BMW Art Car Project dates back to 1975 when French racing driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain wanted to invite an artist to create a canvas on a car. Since then, many renowned international artists have created BMW Art Cars. Born in South Africa in 1936, Mahlangu is known for her brightly coloured paintings and murals in the Ndebele tradition, commenting “My art has evolved from our tribal tradition of decorating the home”. Having achieved international acknowledgement for her work, she is considered the leading representative of this art form. Mahlangu’s patterns unite her tribe’s traditional means of expression with contemporary technology and the BMW spirit.
7. The Ülker Children Art Atelier
Founded on the belief that art significantly contributes to a child’s development as a versatile human being, Yıldız Holding will host this year’s The Ülker Children Art Atelier at CI. The atelier promotes children’s imagination and aesthetic sense through various activities and provides an opportunity for children to discover their talents with expert instructors. The atelier, a part of various activities since 2011, has previously enabled children to meet famous artists such as Burhan Doğançay and Hüsamettin Koçan