#istanbul-biennial

#istanbul-biennial

The current Istanbul Biennial has been cut short after the curator, Christine Tohmé, resigned from her post. The 18th Istanbul Biennial will "conclude after its first leg following Tohmé's decision to step down due to personal circumstances", says a statement from the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), the private foundation that administers the event. The first leg of the biennial was held from 20 September to 23 November across eight venues and welcomed over 600,000 visitors.

Curated by Christine Tohmé under the title "The Three-Legged Cat," the biennial is envisioned as a three-year process unfolding between 2025 and 2027. The second phase, scheduled for 2026, will focus on establishing an academy and collaborating with local initiatives through a series of public programs. The third and final chapter in 2027 will bring together the accumulated encounters through exhibitions and workshops.

Continuing the Biennial's approach of engaging directly with Istanbul through a dispersed model rather than a fixed venue, this edition will use eight sites located within walking distance along the Beyoğlu- Karaköy axis. Over this period, works by 47 artists from more than 30 countries will be presented to the public, accompanied by a program of performances, screenings, and live events during the opening week.