| The greater Near- and Middle East region has historically been at the vanguard of cultural activity in world civilization. Led by Iran and Turkey, this geographic expanse has long been considered a bastion of art and creativity. More recently, despite the most challenging of socio-political circumstances, we have witnessed a remarkable artistic and cultural revival, possibly a result of these very intensely troubled economic and political forces driving the region. When looking at thematic content, Turkey’s contemporary art, in all its variety and richness, is neither Middle Eastern nor European in flavor. Its principal interests deal with routine community, and issues closely linked to politics, youth, gender, and minority rights. |  |
Maryam Homayoun Eisler
The greater Near- and Middle East region has historically been at the vanguard of cultural activity in world civilization. Led by Iran and Turkey, this geographic expanse has long been considered a bastion of art and creativity. More recently, despite the most challenging of socio-political circumstances, we have witnessed a remarkable artistic and cultural revival, possibly a result of these very intensely troubled economic and political forces driving the region.
When looking at thematic content, Turkey’s contemporary art, in all its variety and richness, is neither Middle Eastern nor European in flavor. Its principal interests deal with routine community, and issues closely linked to politics, youth, gender, and minority rights. Ideas highlight the dichotomy surrounding secular, as opposed to religious, tendencies, between modernity and tradition, but also migration versus immigration in the context of urbanization. All this is under the greater umbrella of identity, individuality, belonging and nationalism, not to mention the basic notion of what it really means to be “Turkish.”
Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture pulsates with genuine cultural excitement. Equally worthy of note is the relationship between artistic initiative and private capital. The lack of direct government support and funding has almost worked to the betterment and progress of the country’s cultural renewal, as it allows the artistic community to criticize social and political issues in a free and independent manner.
A new memory is being stamped in Turkey’s cultural arena, and the marriage today of the exhibition Istanbul Cool! and Unleashed: Contemporary Art from Turkey, a new book, proves the renaissance of Turkish creative outpour, one which no doubt is here to stay.
