Exhibitions Releases

Two exhibitions at Borusan Contemporary: Edward Burtynsky and an İlhan Berk inspired look at Borusan Contemporary Art Collection: “Script”

29 October 2016 Sat

Having narrated the altering façade of the nature as a consequence of industrialization with his large-scale photographs, Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky will be hosted by one of the most important representatives of the new media art in Istanbul, Borusan Contemporary, with his exhibition titled “Aqua Shock: Selections from the Water Project."

Having narrated the altering façade of the nature as a consequence of industrialization with his large-scale photographs, Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky will be hosted by one of the most important representatives of the new media art in Istanbul, Borusan Contemporary, with his exhibition titled “Aqua Shock: Selections from the Water Project.” Simultaneously with the Burtynsky exhibition that will take place between 29 October 2016 and 19 February 2017, an exhibition curated by Dr. Necmi Sönmez that takes İlhan Berk’s poetry as a starting point and enables a different reading of the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection, “Script” will be open to visitors.

Burtynsky in Istanbul with his most assertive works

Being known for his large-scale photographs that transform into impressive artworks with their emphasis on the geometrical details of industrialized landscapes, Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky’s most assertive works until today are brought together in “Aqua Shock: Selections from the Water Project” curated by William A. Ewing and will take place between 29 October 2016 and 19 February 2017.

Placing the transformative power of the industry on nature as the focal point of his artistic production, Burtynsky, in his own words, is “pursuing large-scaled, detailed subjects that are still open to different interpretations; he is interested in treatment facilities, mines, refineries, quarries – subjects that are out of our daily experience yet still a part of our every-day use. The images he creates acquire a metaphor function towards the favored dichotomies of our time, such as attractive and repulsive, tempting and frightening.

Having produced a series of works on caves and oil in the past years, Burtynsky this time concentrates on our fundamental life source, water. The growingly problematic relation of humanity with water, an essential natural source, is explored by Burtynsky through this 5-year long project, in which he journeyed from the Gulf of Mexico to the Ganges River and used unusual equipment such as a ship’s company, a crane, a plane, remote controlled UAS and a pneumatic pole that is equipped with cameras and fiber optic remote control. “Aqua Shock: Selections from the Water Project” can be visited in the temporary exhibition spaces of Borusan Contemporary.

“Script”: A different reading of the collection through the poetry of İlhan Berk

The same days also host another exhibition at Borusan Contemporary, Perili Köşk. Curated by Dr. Necmi Sönmez, “Script” reads into the new acquisitions of Borusan Contemporary Art Collection through the poetry of İlhan Berk, suggesting a special interpretation. The exhibition will be open to visitors on the office floors and areas excluding the temporary exhibition spaces.

The collection exhibitions that were previously inspired by authors such as Leyla Erbil and Tezer Özlü are now succeeding the series with İlhan Berk (1918–2008), who brought a breath of fresh air to Turkish poetry. The starting point of the exhibition is Berk’s poem titled “Script,” as well as his being a poet who paints. Videos, photographs, light sculptures and installations in Borusan Contemporary Art Collection will be construed through İlhan Berk’s poetry, along with ten different prints of the poet himself, and his handwritings.

Areas that are based on the act of “writing” such as handwriting, letter, lithography constituted the backbone of İlhan Berk’s poetics. All his life he followed the footsteps of himself by keeping diaries and journals, and developed his paintings and prints around the same theme.

Within the context of contemporary art, especially an inclination towards the studies on writing, documenting, and archiving demonstrate the differences in viewpoints of the artists. “Script” will bring together masterful poet Berk’s world of poetry and painting with the pursuits of contemporary art and open an unusual contextualization process to discussion.

Poetry reading and panel events that will be held parallel to the “Script” exhibition will enable different interpretations between poetry and contemporary art.

Burtynsky “Aqua Shock: Selections from the Water Project” exhibition organization and its world tour is carried out by ADMIRA, Milan.

The exhibitions will be open until 19 February 2017 evening.