http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/arts/design/a-canvas-of-turmoil-during-istanbul-art-fair.html?_r=0

So many things have been written about Gezi Park demonstrations but I had no idea about its influence on the production and exhibition of the Biennial art works and on the ‘backstage’ of Istanbul Biennial until I read this article last week. It is quite interesting that some of the public places in Istanbul would have been turned into exhibition spaces under the title of ‘Mom, Am I Barbarian?’. Even though the organizers could not get the permission for using the public spaces after the Gezi Park protests, in my opinion, later the city turned into an amazing open art gallery with the creative contributions of the demonstrators. This also showed me once again how the creation of art is completely related with the politics. So, before going to Biennial, I think it would be useful to think about the politics, art, urban space as an exhibition place and also later to observe the current exhibition conditions.
Özge Yıldız