There are a lot of things we can do, when we are waiting for the Istanbul Modern's new exhibitions, which will be on by December. A lot of things can be learned from the kiosks placed in the entrance and car park of Istanbul Modern; Turkish modern and contemporary art can be seen by visiting The Past and The Future; we can reach to catalogues, videos and Istanbul Modern application from the the tablets placed in the museum. And of course: We can spend some quality time in Sky Spotting Stop placed in the garden of Istanbul Modern and attend the events. Let's talk about some of these options:
Touch Modern Art!
We are talking about something new that is both inside the museum and in one of the busiest parts of Istanbul waiting for its art followers. Supported by Istanbul Development Agency, 13 touch screens and in museum tablets are placed with "Contemporary Art: Istanbul's New Center of Attraction For Tourism" project. We can follow everything going on Istanbul Modern, reach information about the exhibitions, get information from these kiosks. We are listening to the real aim of the project from Istanbul Modern itself: ‘’Being a follower of developing technologies at all times, Istanbul Modern is using digital innovations in order to reach a wider audience. It is aimed to provide awareness of the potential visitors on contemporary art, free education and attendance to social programmes as well as contribution to Istanbul's developing alternative culture tourism with the placed touch screens and tablet computers. It is aimed to increase the visibility of modern and contemporary art through technology for the people living in Istanbul as well as the domestic and foreign tourists with this project that is realized within the scope of Global Tourism Center Directed to Non-Profit Organizations Istanbul Financial Support Programme.’’
The most exciting part is that we can reach to these touch screens in the most busy points of the city. This is a project, which will reach to regular members of the museum, to the visitors wishing to attend artistic events in the city and to the locals, who have never been to Istanbul Modern before. Not to mention that this is done with a language both in English and Turkish, appealing to everyone in the city. Some of the panels have taken their place: i.e. the entrance of Istanbul Modern; but here is the list of locations that we will meet with the touch screens when the project is finalized:
• Sultanahmet Square
• Kadıköy (Karaköy-Eminönü-Kabataş Port)
• Airports
• Kabataş
• Beyoğlu Tünnel ve Galata Kuledibi
• Kanyon Shopping Center
• İstanbul Modern Art Museum
Leave Me Alone: Let's Spot At The Sky
Is it possible to forget those lines of Turgut Uyar's poem?
‘’Coming to such-and-such stop: let's spot the sky
Telling the driver somewhere available: get off as we make the bus stop
This darkness is good as it is: good job God
Let everyone sleep: i like it, it is good
Let the thieves, police hungry and full ones sleep
Let everyone sleep: I wouldn't let only you and me go to sleep
We will be we when none around: so let's not go to sleep
We are drunk anyhow; we kiss on the street somehow
Leave me alone: lets spot the sky ’’
The garden of Istanbul Modern and YAP Istanbul Modern: Young Architects Programme with the collaboration of MoMa and MoMA PS1, are hosting a fantastic project called Sky Spotting Stop. The space, which has been used for many events since the end of June, can be visited until the end of October.
I can almost hear you ask: " What is YAP: New Architectures Programme?" We can simply summarize it as a project "providing an opportunity for young and rising architects to design a temporary structure in the outer space of Istanbul Modern in every two years during the summer times". Passing through a selection panel, the winning project out of 5 finalists is exhibited in the garden of Istanbul Modern. YAP is a programme, which aims to promote innovative design research offering solutions to environmental problems such as sustainability, recycle and re-usage, and increasing the usage opportunities in open air spaces with elements such as shades, waters and sitting areas. Modern says: "These designs are expected to be one of the attractive summer space of the city, to host various events, to create social areas for the people living in the city and to accomplish all these with architecturally and financially applicable solutions." Rather than Istanbul Modern, MoMA PS1, CONSTRUCTO and MAXXI are the other international organizations, which continue with this programme.
Who do you think have come up with this fantastic idea? Our answer is SO? Architecture and Ideas. Let's make a quotation related to the project of the team formed of Sevince Bayrak and Oral Göktaş:
"Sky Spotting Stop reflects its installed space onto the city while shading the courtyard of Istanbul Modern as it is floating gently on the hidden waters of the Bosphorus. The structural construction of warehouses and the garden, where the museum is, enables the movement of seawater transformed into the movement of architectural elements. The garden, which is near the sea, but disconnected from coastline by customs area, is now redefined with the shading elements carried by the floating buoys on the sea under the slab. This short term, yet alive addition, which will be percepted from Bosphorous and high parts of the city, turns its existing place into a part of city's silhouette. People in the garden spend their time under the swinging shadows during the day and the variable illuminations when it is dark. The utilization set up of the garden take its shape with re-used elements: used car tyres covered with fishing nets turn into light, strong and portable units. Generated variable landscaping and non-stop moving shades turn garden into a stop in the city. A stop to rest, to gather, to play games or to spot the sky."
It is also necessary to talk about events a bit. Beautiful as it is, Sky Spotting Stop has also been hosting various art events from film screening to concerts, performances since the beginning of summer. There is going to be one more performance on 28th September Saturday and 1st October Tuesday in the garden, where Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası and Turgut Uyar memorial day is hosted. The details are as such:
The performance called TORTU (Residue), which will be performed by Tuğçe Tuna together with RemDans Art Collective, is going to meet with its audience on 28th September and 1st October at 17:30 within the scope of YAP. The artists of the performance, of which the concept and the direction is by Tuğçe Tuna, are Gizem Aksu, Begüm Balcıoğlu, Yoseob Kim, Harun Kocabıcak, Orçun Okurgan, İlkem Ulugün and Tuğçe Tuna. The music is taken over by Vahit Tuna.
" What is remained on my body from the instants? The sediments I carry on my shoulders at times, and ascend stepping on some other times. Useless parts of dreams in "reality". I am at halt. Stop! I am on my two feet; I am awake..."
What is more?
While all these are happening, you can spectate Past and Future in the permanent exhibition area on top section of Istanbul Modern. You can visit the close Quarters exhibition gathering many young photography artists downstairs in the Photography Gallery and right next to it, the most thorough Erol Akyavaş exhibition.
