Turkey to be guest of honor at Madrid’s modern art fair

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru (2nd left) says the project will gather a wide selection of Turkish artists during the art fair in Madrid. AA photo

Turkey has been selected as the guest of honor at the 32nd edition of the international contemporary art fair ARCOmadrid, which will be held Feb. 13 to 17, 2013, in Spain.

“Parallel to economic development in recent years, Turkey has started to participate in international art fairs organized abroad quite often in the last three to four years. Our cultural policy will continue to improve in the same context with the economical development and political stability in Turkey,” Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru told journalists at a meeting in Istanbul.

ARCOmadrid will bring together a total of 202 galleries from 30 countries around the world. One of the main attractions of the fair will be a “Focus Turkey” section created in cooperation by the Turkish Embassy in Spain and curator Vasif Kortun.

Naci Koru said the project will gather a wide selection of Turkish artists and provide an opportunity to bring the contemporary artistic production of this active and fast-growing market to collectors and the general public in Madrid.

Turkey’s presence will also be reflected in the city of Madrid with themed exhibitions in many of its most-representative galleries and museums.

Ten prominent Turkish galleries including Dirimart, Elipsis, Maçka Art Gallery, Mana, Nev İstanbul, Non, Pilot, Rampa, Rodeo and X-Ist have been selected to participate the program.