Tag: IKSV

Kevin Spacey will be in Istanbul

Published by Ozgur Tore

Co-commissioned by and produced in association with Istanbul Theatre Festival (IKSV) & Istanbul Municipal Theatres, Athens & Epidaurus Festival, Centro Niemeyer Spain, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Kay & McLean Productions and Singapore Repertory Theatre.

Istanbul Theatre Festival (IKSV) & Istanbul Municipal Theatres will host a special co-production in October sponsored by Vodafone RED. Directed by Sam Mendes and featuring Kevin Spacey in the title role, “Richard III” will be in Istanbul in October with five special performances.

“Richard III”, the production of which the world premiere has taken place on June 29 and made tremendous effect, will be put on stage by Istanbul Theatre Festival (IKSV) & Istanbul Municipal Theatres by the sponsorship of Vodafone RED on the nights of Wednesday, October 5; Thursday, October 6; Friday, October 7; Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 at 20.30 at Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage.

Kevin Spacey says: “Sam is one of the finest directors I have had the pleasure to work with and to gain this opportunity is beyond my wildest hopes. I love Sam’s perspective on a role, carving and shaping the actor. With such a remarkable character before me I have a feeling this one is going to be memorable experience. It is also my hope to bring a comprehensive educational programme and opportunities for emerging artists along our travels, making an argument for the living theatre in all major cities we will visit throughout 2011. We’re delighted that Bank of America Merrill Lynch has come on board for another season as our sponsor and I applaud their continued support for our work.”

After the performances in Athens, Hong Kong and Spain, “Richard III” will come to Istanbul in October for five special performances. Following the performances in Istanbul on October, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the production will continue the tour with performances in Beijing, Singapore and Sydney

via Kevin Spacey will be in Istanbul.

July 29, 2011
Inside Turkey’s Young Art Scene

First it was China. Then India. Now Turkey is fast becoming the country du jour on the contemporary-art circuit. A slew of shows at prominent galleries in Europe, record-setting auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and a host of new venues in the country’s cultural capital, Istanbul, suggest that modern Turkish art is finally coming of age. At the “Confessions of Dangerous Minds” exhibition of contemporary Turkish art, a first-of-its-kind show held at London’s trendsetting Saatchi Gallery in April, half the works by 19 mostly emerging artists were sold before the doors opened.

Partly, it is about patronage. A fast-growing economy has spawned a new class of youthful art collectors, while established industrial families have launched signature museums in rapid succession. (There is almost no public funding.) It began in 2004 with the Istanbul Modern, owned by the Eczacibasi family, who made their fortune in pharmaceuticals. The venue features a vast collection (and a pleasant waterfront café). Last year, Omer Koc, scion of a heavyweight industrial dynasty, opened the gallery Arter on Istiklal, Istanbul’s busiest street. It was recently joined a few doors down by SALT, a state-of-the-art exhibition-and-research space in a radically restored heritage building, funded by Garanti Bank and directed by Vasif Kortun, Turkey’s best-known contemporary-art curator. (See pictures of the Streets of Istanbul.)

But there are also dozens of other smaller galleries tucked into side streets nearby, proof, perhaps, that there is no shortage of interesting work. “There is no other similar Muslim-dominant country which doesn’t have censorship in the arts and where artists are dealing with heavy-duty issues, like gender roles and religion,” says Kerimcan Guleryuz, director of Gallery X-ist, which has showcased many politically charged pieces.

A great way to see what all the fuss is about is to visit the Istanbul Biennial, which has made spectacular strides since its debut in 1987. The next biennial, put together by top-name curators Jens Hoffmann and Adriano Pedrosa, runs from Sept. 17 to Nov. 13. You’ll be working your way through some pretty hefty crowds if the current buzz about contemporary Turkish art is anything to go by. Visit iksv.org for more.

via Inside Turkey’s Young Art Scene – TIME.

June 5, 2011
Turkish Designs for Sale in Istanbul and New York

The Museum of Modern Art“Dervish Expresso Cups,” on sale as part of the “Destination: Istanbul” project.

Great design transcends borders and, in the case of “Destination: Istanbul,’’ it literally crosses them. In the project, a joint effort by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, cleverly rendered items by Turkish designers will be for sale at the MoMA Design Store starting this month and at the IKSV Design Store (Sadi Konuralp Caddesi No: 5; 90-212-334-0830; www.iksvtasarim.com/giris.asp) in the Sisli neighborhood of Istanbul.

The MoMA-curated selection of more than 100 items by 41 Turkish designers runs the gamut from serving utensils carved from Aegean olive wood by Koray Ozgen ($35; all prices are for items at the MoMA store, as the Istanbul display is not yet complete), to a beechwood “twig stool” by Demir Obuz ($450). With a generous sprinkling of Ottoman and Byzantine motifs, the collection includes porcelain espresso cups by Kunter Sekercioglu ($98), whose wavy saucer channels the movement of the whirling dervishes, and a modern take by Koray Ozgen in steel and nylon on traditional long-handled tea trays ($85).

Aylin Kutnay, the director of the IKSV Design shop, said her store has been selling MoMA-branded items for two years and that this about-face is “a great opportunity for introducing Turkish design to the world.’’

Leyla Taranto, who crafts jewelry, like adorable flower-vase brooches ($45) in coated metal and different shades of green, said she hopes the project “will stimulate curiosity about other aspects of Turkish design and hence other Turkish designers. On a personal level I am of course thrilled that my work is displayed in New York.’’

via Turkish Designs for Sale in Istanbul and New York – NYTimes.com.

May 13, 2011
Word “genocide” pronounced at Istanbul film festival

“Do not forget me – Istanbul” film was for the first time screened within the framework of Istanbul Film Festival.

The film describes stories of people of different nations who are united by multi-cultural Istanbul, press service of the Golden Apricot Film Festival informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The project is a joint effort of multinational team, an Armenian, Greek, Jew, Palestinian, and Turk. Artistic director of the film is Huseyin Karabey.

Erik Nazaryan is one of the directors. He presents a story of a Diaspora Armenian who comes to Istanbul and tries to find house of his grandfather. Interestingly, the word “genocide” was first pronounced during the screening of the film.

Armenian audience will have a chance to watch the film during the eighth Golden Apricot International Film Festival scheduled for this summer.

via Word “genocide” pronounced at Istanbul film festival | Armenia News – NEWS.am.

April 21, 2011
Films made within Armenia-Turkey film project to be screened in Istanbul

Films shot within the framework of Armenia-Turkey film project will be first screened during the 30th Istanbul International Film Festival on April 12.

On the whole five films: “Galata” by Diana Kardumyan, “Puppet Theatre by Canay Ozden, “Don’t Get Lost Children!” by Gulengul Altinas, “The Master of Doves” by Artur Sukiasyan and “Neighbours” by Gor Baghdasaryan will be presented, press service of Golden Apricot film festival informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

ATCP provided production grants for eight short films by joint teams of filmmakers from Armenia and Turkey. This is made possible by the support of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

via Films made within Armenia-Turkey film project to be screened in Istanbul | Armenia News – NEWS.am.

March 25, 2011