“Esche and Kortun are working together on an exhibition structure that folds out of and reveals its context – the city of Istanbul. The title of this Biennial is ‘Istanbul’, referring both to the real urban location and the imaginative charge that this city represents for the world. ‘Istanbul’ as a metaphor, as a prediction, as a lived reality, and an inspiration has many stories to tell and the Biennial will attempt to tap directly into this rich history and possibility…
The Biennial will be composed of three distinct but interlinked initiatives. Firstly, the curators will commission work by artists who deal directly with the urban conditions of Istanbul. Secondly, they will provoke contrast to the city by selecting works from other milieux that provide a conscious estrangement from the surrounding reality while being present in the city through its imperial history and global presence. Thirdly, a parallel project will spotlight different cultural phenomena within the city. This project – provisionally titled positionings – will take various forms, from metaphoric maps to tours and travel advice. In parallel to the Biennial, positionings will highlight specific local and international constellations, concurrent projects in the city that further elaborate and/or offer different perspectives on the proposals of the biennial.”