Art International fair eyes travelling collectors, buyers

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

The Art International brings together 62 leading and emerging international galleries from Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and the US at the Haliç Congress Center

Opening its doors to local and international visitors today, Art International Istanbul, which defines itself as a natural gateway where East meets West, aims to bring together art lovers and galleries on the same platform. 

According to fair Director Dyala Nusseibeh and co-founder Sandy Angus, Istanbul has one of the fastest growing contemporary art markets in the world and this ambitious first edition of the fair provides a welcome and significant contribution to the rich, diverse and expanding art scene in the city.

The fair brings together 62 leading and emerging international galleries from Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. at the Haliç Congress Center, situated on the shores of the Golden Horn, with an interior designed by patat architecture + design. 

The Artistic Program, curated by Artistic Director Stephane Ackermann will feature site-specific installations, films and performances around the venue by artists David Claerbout, Santiago Sierra, Camila Rocha, Nasan Tur, Tal Isaac Hadad and Gül Kozacıoğlu.

The video program is curated by Başak Şenova. The non-profit space is curated by Özkan Cangüven featuring Apartment Project, Collectorspace, m-est, Non-Stage, Pasajist, Polistar, Protocinema, Reccollective, SPOT, Un-Known, 5533 and 49A. The fair’s Talks Program will feature organizations including Protocinema, Delfina Foundation, collectorspace, American Express & SPOT, Global Heritage Fund, Sotheby’s and high-profile speakers including Jack Persekian and artist Keith Coventry.

The outdoor sculpture section at the fair by the waterside, where exhibitors have been invited to present sculptors’ works, will feature Arik Levy (Galerist, Istanbul), Tony Cragg (Cortesi Contemporary, Lugano), Saad Qureshi (Gazelli Art House, London), Huseyin Bahri Alptekin (Rampa, Istanbul), Richard Hudson (Leila Heller Gallery, New York) and Saddek Wasil (Athr Gallery, Saudi Arabia).

 “Our hope is that this fair will rank alongside the world’s major international fairs,” said co-founder of the fair Sandy Angus.

Talks program of the fair

Obviously this takes time to achieve, but because of Istanbul’s geographic position in relation to Russia and Central Asia, the Middle East and to Europe, its strong network of collectors and the thriving local art scene I believe this is an achievable goal.” He added, “We have received a hugely encouraging level of support both in Turkey and abroad and we are looking forward to a very successful first edition.” 

For its inaugural edition, ArtInternational hosts a series of conversations and panel discussions over the three days of the fair. Participating international talk partners and organizations include Protocinema (Istanbul) Delfina Foundation (London), collectorspace (Istanbul), Global Heritage Fund (USA) and American Express & SPOT (Istanbul).

The Talks Program will provide a forum to discuss current issues in contemporary art and has been prepared by Stephane Ackermann, Artistic Director. Key speakers include British artist Keith Coventry, Cultural Advisory Board member and Director of the Palestinian Museum Jack Persekian and Aaron Cezar, director of the Delfina Foundation.

“Our aim is to create a dynamic art-world convergence in Istanbul, showcasing exciting new works and focusing on quality over quantity. We hope to develop a strong cultural program in tandem with the fair and to connect in particular with artistic developments in Turkey and the Middle East, while bringing in a considered selection of other international galleries,” fair director Dyala Nusseibeh said. 

Attracting collectors

According to the written statement of the fair, “A team of knowledgeable and experienced individuals in the field of international art fairs are behind the organizers of ArtInternational Istanbul. Leading partner Interteks, which was founded in Turkey in 1976, has cultivated a formidable network of contacts through their numerous cultural and business activities in Turkey, having organized fairs for more than 34 years including 460 international events in over 30 different fields. With an unrivalled level of experience behind it, Interteks has proven expertise in marketing events, logistics, attention to the needs of exhibitors and delivering a high quality professional event with large numbers of visitors in attendance. It has recently partnered with established Italian exhibition group Fiera Milano to form Fiera Milano Interteks.”

In addition to the participation of leading and emerging galleries, the fair will also provide a program of exhibitions, events and forums across the city, enabling visitors to experience the rich cultural history of Istanbul alongside the flourishing local contemporary art scene developing today. Tapping into the recent burst of international interest toward art from the Middle East and Asia, it offers collectors a focused space in which to consider the compelling art emerging from these regions.