Beyond BRIC

By Maryam Homayoun Eisler, Benjamin Genocchio, Charmaine Picard, Scott Indrisek

Before the global financial crisis, the headline story was how dramatically both the profile and the value of works from Brazil, Russia, India, and China — the so-called BRIC countries — had risen. In fact, these can hardly be considered developing markets anymore, as witness Phillips de Pury’s creatively packaged sale this April dedicated to BRIC art (its first in the category), not to mention the record-breaking prices being paid for pieces by Chinese and Indian artists and the niche galleries opening in cities from New York to Sydney. So where are those collectors, dealers, and curators who gravitate toward the cutting edge looking now? There is a noticeable buzz surrounding four locations: Turkey, South Korea, Colombia, and Iran. All are experiencing remarkable bursts of creative energy accompanied by a surge in commercial interest both within and beyond their borders. In the pages that follow, we provide a snapshot of the vibrant cultural scene — including the artists, galleries, and patrons to watch — in each of these countries that seem poised to become the next big thing.

TURKEY

Located at the intersection of East and West, modernity and tradition, Turkey is perfectly situated to nurture a vibrant and politically engaged art scene. As the country grapples with reforms aimed at entry into the European Union and with establishing itself as an open, liberal Muslim democracy, Istanbul — a city of 13 million and the 2010 European Capital of Culture — has emerged as an exciting hub of contemporary art. The movement’s rich aesthetic forms deal with concepts of secularism versus religion and belonging versus individuality, all within the context of Turkish national identity.

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In addition to Istanbul, Turkey’s artistic scene is anchored by Ankara, Izmir, and Diyarbakir, but there is also a sizable diaspora. Overall, the number of active Turkish artists has swelled since the early 1980s, and a domestic network of galleries, museums, and nonprofits has emerged to support them. Video and installation artists Haluk Akakçe, 40, and Kutlug Ataman, 49, have been on the global art radar for some time, but thanks to exhibitions abroad, younger talents are now attracting attention. In London the Tate Modern has established a Middle East North Africa Acquisition Committee and begun buying Turkish artworks, including a video by Emre Hüner, 33, to join those by Fikret Atay, 34, already in the collection. Emerging artists work in every medium and genre, from the photographs referencing classical painting of Nazif Topçuoglu to the thought-provoking installations by Hale Tenger to Canan Tolon’s oil paintings, drawings, and environments invoking her architectural training.

Indicative of the growing support for art in Turkey, the 11th Istanbul Biennial had a record 101,000 attendance in September 2009, while last year the Istanbul Contemporary art fair attracted 52,000 visitors. The fair returns for its fifth year from the 25th to the 28th of this month; the 2011 biennial will be curated by Adriano Pedrosa and Jens Hoffmann.

If Turkish artists are very much in the world’s eye, the market for their works is so far free from speculation, and the affordable prices have attracted a new coterie of collectors. The Sotheby’s London sale in April, the house’s second dedicated to Turkish contemporary art, contained lots priced as low as $3,000, and 32 percent of buyers were new, versus 66 percent in 2009.

Population: 76,805,534 (July 2010 est.)

GDP: $874.5 billion

Average Per Capita Income: $11,400

(figures estimated for 2009 except where noted)

Key Galleries

C.A.M. Istanbul www.camgaleri.com

Cagla Cabaoglu Art Gallery Istanbul www.caglacabaoglu.com

Dirimart Istanbul www.dirimart.org

Galeri Nev Ankara and Istanbul www.galerinev.com

Galerist Istanbul www.galerist.com.tr

Pi Artworks Istanbul www.piartworks.com

Rodeo Istanbul www.rodeo-gallery.com

X-ist Istanbul www.artxist.com

Galeri Baraz Istanbul www.galeribaraz.com

via Beyond BRIC – ARTINFO.com.