Istanbul’s historical peninsula to host first biennial

ISTANBUL

The Yeditepe Biennial will be organized between March 31 and May 15 in nearly 30 venues across Istanbul. More than 100 projects will take place in the biennial, organized under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, in cooperation with the Fatih Municipality and Classical Turkish Arts Foundation, and with the supports of other important institutions and organizations of Turkey. 

At a press conference held on March 28 at the Sepetçiler Kasrı, Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir said the historical places in the historic peninsula in the Fatih neighborhood will firstly be used for the programs to be carried out during the biennial. 

“We are pleased to become home to such an important arts activity in this region, which was the capital of different empires during its 8500-year history. I would like to thank President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has made us feel the great indescribable honor of hosting the Yeditepe Biennial, for which I believe that it will make significant contributions to the promotion of classical Turkish arts throughout the world, under their auspices, with my heartfelt gratitude,” the mayor said.

Exhibitions, seminars, panels, conferences, open sessions, film screenings, music performances, interior and exterior installation works, workshop studies, programs to commemorate the doyens of traditional arts, introductory-complementary trips and visits will be organized within the scope of the biennial. 

The theme of the biennial is “Ehl-i Hiref.” “Hırfet” means profession, art and occupation as a word. “Hiref,” the plural of hırfet, is used as a word expressing the art and craft together in Ottoman Turkish. Almost all kinds of production based on hand workmanship were considered within the scope of hırfet, and the producers were named as ehl-i hiref (craftsmen/artisans). 

More than 600 artists of different fields will take part in the biennial with some 3,000 artworks. Some of the venues of the biennial include the Archaeology Museum, Ayvansaray Turkish House, Beyazıt Square, Bozdoğan Arch, Darphane-i Amire, Grand Bazaar, Gülhane Park, Hagia Eirene and Hagia Sophia Museum.