Istanbul Modern

I am not quite sure what I thought the Istanbul Modern would be like, but it definitely surpassed even my wildest expectations. The museum has been open for almost five years now, opening in 2004 just as Turkey increased its efforts to enter the European Union. The museum represented a cultural action that could demonstrate the country’s commitment to social change. I read a quote by the museum’s director, which stated that the “museum will show how much [Turkey] belongs in the West in a way the world doesn’t realize.” (Ozler2004). Turkey has had the strongest exposure to the West over time, so, unlike many other countries in the region, there is a strong tradition of modern art. This tradition begins later in Turkey than European countries because it is predominantly a Muslim country. In Islam it is prohibited to represent living beings, because it is believed that only God can create living forms.

As I wandered through the various hallways, reading about the paintings and artists, it struck me that many of them left to Turkey to study in Europe for a time, especially following the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Many of the artists displayed themes of isolation and alienation, increased by the sense of identity loss as Turkey merged between the East and West. One of the visiting exhibitions spoke to this sense of commonality among nationalities as well, The Room Project. The artist, Annette Merrild, photographed a series of rooms in nine different cities in nine countries in an effort to show the similarities and differences between national cultures. As I walked through the long hallway looking at living rooms of different homes in a particular city, it was interesting to note that individuals naturally arranged their furniture the same way. Something inherent in the culture produced an accepted way to arrange furniture to entertain guests that must be aesthetically pleasing to the culture. Such a fascinating study.