Press Releases
December 8, 2009
Contemporary Istanbul 2009 is visited by 52 thousand people and 68 percent of the pieces exhibited were sold
Organized between December 3-6, 2009 with the participation of 307 artists and 73 galleries under the main sponsorship of Akbank Private Banking, Contemporary Istanbul Modern and Contemporary Art Event brought the national and international art lovers and investors together in Istanbul. During the event, it is observed that the participation and sales of the pieces are increased compared to the previous year and 52 thousand people visited the event, while 68 percent of the pieces exhibited were sold.
The fourth edition of Contemporary Istanbul plays a significant role in making Istanbul a contemporary art center. The preview was held on December 2 with the participation of 6.800 guests and great interest of art collectors, while total 52 thousand art lovers visited the event. During the event, national and international collectors displayed a great interest and the galleries sold art pieces of approximately 5-6 million dollars on December 2 and 3. Last year, 48 thousand people visited Contemporary Istanbul and 56 percent of the pieces exhibited were sold. This year, 52 thousand people visited the event and the sales of the galleries reached 68 percent.
Most valuable examples of the Turkish Contemporary Art are displayed this year at Contemporary Istanbul. While "This Has Been Done Before", one of the most important pieces of Bedri Baykam from 1987, met the art lovers in Contemporary Istanbul, it was put on sale for 2 million dollars. The Blue Symphony piece of Burhan Doğançay, which was sold recently for 2.2 million Turkish Liras, also received a great interest from the art lovers throughout the event.
The Syrian contemporary art met the art lovers for the first time in Contemporary Istanbul. The Syrian Contemporary Art pieces are exhibited with the title “Art from Syria” in "New Horizons" section planned to be repeated with the participation of new countries every year.
In commemoration of 20th year for Berlin and Istanbul to become "Sister Cities", the most attractive examples of the German Contemporary Art are exhibited at the area reserved for "Art from Berlin" with the participation of German galleries and collectors as a result of the cooperation with the Galleries Association of Berlin.
Contemporary İstanbul'09 brought 12 art institutions including Pera Museum, Sabancı Museum, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul Modern Museum, IKSV and Doğançay Museum together with the art lovers. Within the scope of "CI Dialogues" conference series, one of the most influencing projects of Contemporary Istanbul, Robert C. Morgan (The Disappearance of Criticism in Contemporary Art), Nadim Karan (Urban Art) and Başak Şenova (Unable to Read: Absence of Critical Thinking) have considered the contemporary art with different dimensions.
