[artinfo] Istanbul Modern will open its doors to the public on Saturday, 11 December, 2004

[e-Flux]

Istanbul Modern will open its doors to the public 
on Saturday, 11 December, 2004

Istanbul Modern
Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. Liman Sahasi
Antrepo No:4 Karakoy - Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 334 73 00
Fax: +90 212 243 43 19
info at istanbulmodern.org
<http://www.istanbulmodern.org>http://www.istanbulmodern.org

The inauguration of the Istanbul Modern, the 
first museum of modern and contemporary art in 
Turkey, will take place on 11 December 2004 under 
the auspices of Prime Minister of Turkey Recep 
Tayyip Erdogan.

In line with its aim of being a living museum, 
Istanbul Modern will seek to create a vibrant, 
year-long program of diverse events that will set 
an art agenda for Turkey and will contribute to 
mark Istanbul as a capital on the world's 
cultural map.

Rosa Martinez, curator of the 1997 International 
Istanbul Biennial and currently director of the 
Venice Biennial 2005 has been appointed as the 
chief curator of Istanbul Modern. Martinez marks 
the importance of museums as centers of artistic 
production and as critical cultural platforms.


The upper floor will host the permanent 
collection of Modern Turkish Art and will exhibit 
the principal trends and works since the early 
20th Century. The inaugural show of the permanent 
collection "Observation / Interpretation / 
Multiplicity" has been curated by Ali Akay, 
Levent Cal•koglu and Hasim Nur Gurel.

The temporary exhibitions gallery situated on the 
ground floor is curated by Fulya Erdemci and will 
present 3 to 4 shows a year. "The Making of 
Istanbul Modern" which is a visual story 
documenting both Istanbul's privileged status as 
a seaport and the stages of founding the museum 
will be first exhibition of this gallery.

Istanbul Modern has a special gallery for 
photography curated by Engin Ozendes and a new 
media area where visitors will be able to view 
examples of video and digital art in a wireless 
network environment. The sculpture garden at the 
entrance of the museum will present different 
surveys of contemporary sculpture.

In addition to exhibitions, Istanbul Modern is 
developing diverse activities and designed 
educational programs for a wide range of age 
groups. Students will be able to attend workshops 
and lectures. The museum's Art Library will be 
open to the public. The movie theatre will 
present a program of independent productions and 
innovative films from all over the world.

Istanbul Modern will be open every day except 
Monday between 10:00 and 18:00 hours. On 
Thursdays it will remain open until 20:00.

For further information please contact:
Handan Senkoken, Press Office
Tel: + 90 212 243 65 61
Fax: +90 212 243 43 19
handan.senkoken at istanbulmodern.org