Istancool 2011, an international festival of art, design, fashion, film, music, literature and architecture, began on May 27.
International art festival “Istancool 2011” and the Amnesty International have held a joint event to draw attention to the freedom of expression.
Istanbul’s Tophane-i Amire Culture and Art Center was the venue for a panel discussion, “Voices of Hope – Readings”.
Marco Mueller, art curator of the Venice Film Festival, and French author Sophie Calle read out letters sent by Chinese and Cambodian prisoners whose freedoms of thought and expression were restricted.
Mine Hanyali of the Amnesty International said at the event, “people around the world are sentenced to prison just for expressing their thoughts peacefully. People around the world are subject to torture and maltreatment just because they toast for freedom. We demand their release. As humans rights activists, we demand that authors, poets, journalists and blog writers should not be punished for expressing their thoughts.”
Later, participants let yellow balloons out to the air symbolizing release of prisoners of thought.
“Istancool 2011,” an international festival of art, design, fashion, film, music, literature and architecture, began on May 27. The second edition of the three-day event brought together some the world’s most talented writers, designers, editors, actors, poets, filmmakers, dancers and musicians including Tilda Swinton, Venice Film Festival director Marco Mueller, Courtney Love, Sophie Calle, Riccardo Tisci, Ryan McGinley, Haider Ackermann, Dan Colen, Michael Stipe, Sam Taylor-Wood and Kirsten Dunst.
AA
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