Tehran galleries in focus at Contemporary Istanbul

ISTANBUL

The 10th edition of Contemporary Istanbul (CI) will take place between Nov. 12 and 15 at the Istanbul Congress Centre (ICC) and Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC).

Today the event kicks off with its invitation-only preview, allowing guests to enjoy a first glimpse of the exhibitions and projects.

For its landmark 10th anniversary, CI has brought together more than 700 artworks and 102 leading and emerging galleries from 24 countries, including 23 galleries that are taking part for the first time.

Participating galleries were selected by CI artistic advisor Marc-Olivier Wahler, with selection committee 
members Kerimcan Güleryüz, Nathalie Mamane-Cohen and Freda Rozenbaum-Uziyel. 

This year features the third iteration of CI Plugin, the new media section of the fair dedicated to the concept of digital art and design, while Contemporary Tehran explores contemporary art in Tehran. Along with these exciting projects is the addition of an initiative curated by the Australia China Art Foundation showcasing Chinese artists, and CI Solo Shows, where five galleries select an outstanding artist to highlight.

Each year CI Focus showcases a cutting-edge selection of contemporary art from a specific geographic region 
or a relevant subject. This year, the focus is on several exceptional galleries from Tehran, featuring works by emerging and established artists such as Ali Akbar Sadeghi (Shirin Gallery), Morehshin Allahyari (Lajevardi Foundation), Nasser Bakhshi (Aaran Art Gallery), Houman Mortazavi (Dastan’s Basement) and Babak Roshaninejad (Assar Art Gallery). 

As part of this year’s Focus program, 12 works from The Mobarqa Collection, owned by Nadeer Mobarqa and his wife, are on display. This exceptional collection of over 600 works of Iranian modern and contemporary art includes drawings, installations, paintings, 
photographs, prints, sculpture and video art. 

Plugin new media section 

Presented at the ICEC, Plugin features a selection of galleries, architecture and design studios and new media related initiatives that respond to the curatorial theme of X-CHANGE, exploring emerging practices of production and interaction in contemporary media cultures. 

Curated by Dr. Ebru Yetişkin, X-CHANGE presents an array of genres including sound and light installations, kinetic sculptures, interactive and generative design, hologram installations and robotic designs.

Independent artists featured are Bager Akbay, Can Büyükberber, Deniz Derbent, Umut Gonca, Erdal İnci, Nihat Karataşlı, Ufuk Barış Mutlu, NOHLab, Pi-Slices, Onur Sönmez, Ayşe Gül Süter and Büşra Tunç.

Exhibitors include Borusan Contemporary, DAM Gallery, Galeri Zilberman, Lajevardi Foundation, LICHT FELD Gallery, Pearl Lam Galleries and the Australia China Art Foundation.

Presented at the Lajevardi Foundation are the digital fabrications of new media artist Morehshin Allahyari. Mohammad-Hossein Emad’s sculptures are on view at Assar Art Gallery, the work of Nasser Bakhshi is exhibited at Aaran Art Gallery and large-scale paintings by Ardeshir Mohassess can be seen at Dastan’s Basement.

In addition to exhibits, Plugin explores the theme of X-CHANGE with a daily series of walks, talks, sessions and workshops. 


Solo shows 

This year, CI is hosting a new program called Solo Shows, where five galleries curate presentations of one of their represented artists. Among these five artists are Marco Di Giovanni, Adam Jastrzebski, İhsan Oturmak, Bogdan Rata and Zio Ziegler. 

In a project coordinated by the Australia China Art Foundation, the fair is bringing a diverse and sometimes challenging group of art works and experiences to Istanbul, which will be exhibited in private and public spaces around the city.