Istanbul Modern, a.k.a. Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, (Turkish: İstanbul Modern Sanat Müzesi) is a contemporary art gallery located inside the Galataport complex in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Inaugurated on December 11, 2004, Istanbul Modern was Turkey's first modern and contemporary art gallery and focuses on Turkish artists. It is a private venture under the umbrella of the nonprofit Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.[1]
As of 2004, Oya Eczacıbaşı serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.[2]
History
Early beginnings
Funded by two corporations – the Eczacıbaşı Group and Doğuş Group-Bilgili Holding –, Istanbul Modern opened in a 8,000 m2 (86,000 sq ft) former government customs warehouse in the Karaköy neighbourhood in 2004,[3][4] after a $5 million renovation overseen by Tabanlıoğlu Architects.[5]
Alexander Vallaury building
From 2018 to 2022, during the construction of its new building, the Istanbul Modern collection was temporarily relocated to the former Union Française building in Beyoğlu, designed in 1896 by Alexander Vallaury.[6]
Renzo Piano building
On 4 May 2023, Istanbul Modern reopened in a new building close to its original location in Karaköy.[7] The five-story, 10,500 m2 (113,000 sq ft) building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.[8]
The new building offers various exhibition halls as well as educational workshops, a cinema, a library, a design shop, event spaces, and a café and restaurant.
The Istanbul Modern is predominantly a gallery devoted to Turkish art since the latter half of the 20th century, although it does also include a few older works. Turkish art from its earliest days until the 20th century can be seen in the nearby Istanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum.
Major Turkish artists whose work can be seen at the Istanbul Modern include:
Istanbul Modern also includes the work of a few international contemporary artists too. Runner (2017), a white sculpture by sculptor Tony Cragg, greets visitors in front of the entrance.[11]
Controversy
In 2011, eight prominent artists pulled their work in response to claims the museum had rejected a piece by David “Bubi” Hayon for a charity auction. The work was a large seat with a bedpan in the middle, said to be a non-political criticism of the concept of museums.[12]
