12th Istanbul Biennial 2011

The 12th Istanbul Biennial, ranked among the most important art events in Europe along with the Venice Biennale, will turn Istanbul once again into an art platform being watched with interest by the world art communities starting in the month of September. The title of this edition is Untitled (12th Istanbul Biennial), 2011. The title, the visual identity, and the themes of the biennial reference the work of the Cuban American artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres, one of the most important artists of the contemporary era. During his life Gonzalez-Torres exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions internationally, including the 5th Istanbul Biennial, curated by Rosa Martínez. Gonzalez-Torres’s minimalist and conceptual artistic language is both formally innovative and explicitly political, and was a source of inspiration for the researches conducted for the 12th Istanbul Biennial.

The 12th Istanbul Biennial aims at drawing attention to the importance of the exhibition, the primary format of artistic and curatorial expression, in response to the mentality today favouring ancillary events and programming, especially in a biennial context. It will be precisely installed in a single, carefully constructed space, Antrepo, in a manner that privileges the display and juxtaposition of the artworks.

To remain in line with Gonzalez-Torres’s idea of “Untitled” and his desire to circumvent established artistic and political conventions, the names of the artists will remain undisclosed until the biennial’s opening. A critical position toward preconceived notions of the exhibition is a fundamental part of the curatorial premise, particularly with respect to a possible consumption of the exhibition via a list of the artists, the names of the curators, or the title of the show.

The 12th Istanbul Biennial will also host many important names in global contemporary art. Nearly 4,000 guests, including artists, critics, curators, and museum and gallery managers from international art communities as well as international press members will be in Istanbul during the opening week to see the Istanbul Biennial.

Koç Holding continues its 10-year Biennial Sponsorship, having started in 2007 and including five biennials with the 12th Istanbul Biennial. Koç Holding will assume the sponsorship of three more Istanbul Biennials to be realized until 2016.

The 12th Istanbul Biennial themes
The 12th Istanbul Biennial will be composed of five group exhibitions, around which more than 50 solo presentations will be installed. Each of the five group shows will feature a large number of artists’ works brought together under a particular argument. These group shows—Untitled (Abstraction), “Untitled” (Ross),“Untitled” (Passport), Untitled (History) and “Untitled” (Death by Gun)—depart from specific works by Gonzalez-Torres that will be reproduced in the Biennial Companion publication.

The group displays will have the character of cabinet exhibitions, each occupying a distinct space. Together they will function as thematic anchors for the five biennial sections. Each solo presentation will be linked to the subjects of the group shows, but will push the themes further, exploring the subjects the group exhibitions have introduced.

Untitled (Abstraction) is inspired by Gonzalez-Torres’s “Untitled” (Bloodwork—Steady Decline) (1994, graphite and gouache on paper, framed)and gathers works that subvert pure abstraction and the high-modernist grid by bringing in political and bodily themes.

“Untitled” (Ross) departs from “Untitled”(Ross) (1991, candies individually wrapped in variously colored cellophane, endless supply), an endless supply of candies individually wrapped in variously colored cellophane. The deliberately cryptic title of the exhibition is an homage to Ross Laycock, Gonzalez-Torres’s lover, who appears in the titles of several of the artist’s works. The exhibition blends the personal into the political, exploring themes of gay love, relations, family, identity, desire, sexuality, and loss.

“Untitled” (Passport) is inspired by “Untitled” (Passport #II) (1993, print on paper, bound in booklets, endless copies), a work consisting of endless copies of bound booklets. It revolves around subjects such as national identity, the trespassing of borders, mapping, statehood, economic migration, and political and cultural alienation.

Untitled (History) is inspired by the framed photostat “Untitled” (1988). It focuses on the writing of history, history’s writing, and alternative readings of history.

“Untitled” (Death by Gun) is inspired by the “stack piece” of the same title by Gonzalez-Torres (1990, print on paper, endless copies). This group exhibition reflects on the rampant spread of worldwide gun violence through a diverse array of historic and contemporary artworks that focus on the role of the gun, the murderer, and the victim.