18 November 2014
CONTEMPORARY ISTANBUL CONCLUDES WITH VISITORS AND RECORD SALES
The 9th edition of Contemporary Istanbul closed on Sunday 16th November suppressing sales and visitors
expectations with more than 77,000 visitors. The total value of exhibited works amounted 67 million Euros of
which 72% were sold. This is the highest amount of artwork sold Contemporary Istanbul has had in its 9
years.
This year, Turkey’s largest international contemporary art fair, Contemporary Istanbul brought 108 galleries
from 23 territories, 520 artists, more than 1000 foreign collectors and VIP’s, art professionals, academicians
and 8 different museum groups all around the world under the same roof. The sales rise above the 30 per
cent of the average sales of international art fairs.
Alex Katz's "Red Lines Sunrise" worth €62,000, Yayoi Kusama "Dots Obsession" worth €70,000 and Ergin Inan
"World Beyond the Gates" worth USD180,000 were amongst some of the world leading artists pieces sold
during the fair. As well, Melissa Mizrakli sold 20 pieces at Emmanuel Fremin Gallery and all the artworks of
Slinkachu at Andipa Gallery were sold. Nohlab Musion's' in-ter-sec-tion Rules hologram work was sold during
the fair as the highest value new media work sold in Turkey with a value of €35,000.
During Contemporary Istanbul’s Gala dinner, Ali Güreli, the chairman and founder of CI, addressed a speech
to the 350 international guests. Ali Güreli explained how Istanbul is getting ready to place itself on the world’s
leading art and cultural centers as Paris, London, New York and Berlin. He also drew attention to the
importance of globalization enveloping the world and that being only possible with the protection of local
values therefore for Turkish Contemporary Art to get increasingly important.
Fair highlights
Contemporary Istanbul’s newest initiative, CI Editions, offered special editions produced in a limited number.
Presenting works by Hale Tenger, Ali Emir Tapan and Bugra Erol amongst others. CI Editions was one of the
areas that brought the most interest from the visitors and new collectors. CI Editions is invited to be
showcased at international fairs throughout the year.
New Media section, Plugin, brought sound and light installations, interactive and generative art projects,
indoor mapping and holographic and video art works for the second year. Highlights included DAM Gallery,
Perte de Signal, GRID, Yellow Peril Gallery – Paul Myoda, Akinci and Sedition.
Chinese contemporary art was present in the fair with the Now You See exhibition by Dr. Michael I Jacobs.
Presenting a selection of 10 Chinese video art works, this area gave an introduction to visitors and collectors of
Chinese contemporary art.
Also CI Dialogues, Contemporary Istanbul conference and discussions program presented panels on China and
on the art market. With the title The Other Art: Alternatives. Choices. Options the program, included amongst
other subjects, ‘How to collect in the future?’ focusing on the future of collectors and collections; ‘Today vs.
Tomorrow Art Economy’ in which Mr Robin Woodhead, Chairman of Sotheby’s International, addressed the
importance of investment in art collections; ‘Contemporary Art in China’; the 2nd Istanbul Design Biennial
moderated by its director Deniz Ova; and the 14th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di
Press Contact:
Contemporary Istanbul
Gemma Saraçoğlu
gemma@contemporaryistanbul.com - +90 534 360 02 04
Venezia focusing on the Turkish Pavilion. Some other participants on these tables were Emilio Alvarez, Loop
Art Fair Director; Horst Diekgerdes, Fashion Photographer; and Francesca Gavin, Curator, Soho House
The 90 Minutes Show, curated by Contemporary Istanbul’s Program Director, Marcus Graf presented a new
solo show every 90 minutes in a shipping container-like space. Presenting the works from Ali Emir Tapan,
Fani Zguro, Island 6, Gallery on the Move, Ismail Necmi, Ozan Kerem Baykal amongst many others, 90
Minutes Show was a curatorial and artist challenge to assemble, opened, celebrated, mediated, discussed,
recorded and dismantle in a very short time frame.
Galleries responses:
Michael L. Gitltz from Malborough Gallery in New York said: ‘Contemporary Istanbul is maturing into a truly
world class destination for collectors and for galleries. As a visiting gallery, we find the energy and intelligence
of the fairgoers very encouraging.’
Emre Kurttepeli, from C24 Gallery in New York agreed: ‘It has been an exceptional fair. The fair has been
extremely well attended with lots of international collectors. It has been our third year participating and each
year we see a huge improvement in the quality of the audience and the artwork displayed.’
Mary Nguyen from Emmanuel Fremin Gallery in New York said ‘This year’s fair is extremely electrifying from
the collectors, galleries and overall energy. It truly has been a wonderful success and we are happy to be apart
of it all’
Sven Purrmann from Galerie Edition Purrmann in Germany described their experience: ‘The fair has become
very international, not only the exhibitors but even the visitors are coming from many countries. After seven
years taking part as an exhibitor, I can say that it is always a pleasure to be at the fair.’
Valentina Ragozzino from Barbara Paci Gallery in Italy said: ‘I think that every year CI becomes more
interesting. The Turkish collectors show their appreciation for the Italian art and sculpture in particular, in
which my gallery is specialized. Moreover, thanks to the beauty of the city of Istanbul, important customers
from Italy came to visit the fair.’
Gallery founder Mark Hashem Hashem said: ‘It is a great fair with international standards with well informed
collectors.’
Melkan Tabanlıoğlu – Galerist agreed ‘Compared to last year, we have noticed the participation has increased.
The visitors and collectors know the artists and galleries. CI Editions and Plugin sections have been the most
impressive additions to this edition’.
Mary Nguyen from Emmanuel Fremin Gallery said: "This year’s fair is extremely electrifying, from the
collectors, galleries and overall energy; it truly has been a wonderful success and we are happy to be apart of
it all”.
Anna Wallace Thompson from Kashya Hildebrand gallery: ‘We were very pleased with the professionalism of
the fair organization and impressed by the large number of visitors the fair attracted. We were pleasantly
surprised by the enthusiasm of the local collectors.’
Collectors quotes:
Contemporary Istanbul has been building a strong collectors network that have resulted in the presence of
more than one thousand international collectors and VIP’s for its 9th edition. Contemporary Istanbul organised
a special collectors programme and gathered international collectors from all around the globe. This year, the
Press Contact:
Contemporary Istanbul
Gemma Saraçoğlu
gemma@contemporaryistanbul.com - +90 534 360 02 04
gala dinner that was held on October 11th will be repeated every year. International collectors stated that they
were impressed by the collectors VIP programme and the organization of the fair. The young and new art
sections of the fair also drew a lot of the attention.
Sunita Shankar, collector from India agreed: “I found the selection of works successful and I have decided to
concentrate on my interest in Turkish contemporary art. Through the selection I have seen at Contemporary
Istanbul, I will begin to invest in young artists”.
French collector and collectors group Palais De Tokyo Tokyo Art Club's founder, Susanne van Hagen
confirmed: “An excellent VIP program! I can say it is the best out of all the international fairs programs I have
participated to. The Tokyo Art Club members were overwhelmed.”
Thierry Fourier, the SIPLEC Director said “Contemporary Istanbul VIP’s program was fascinating. I had the
opportunity to meet many interesting people and I was very impressed with the quality of the organization.”
Chris and Lieven Declerck from Art Brussels: “You made our stay an exciting experience. Your entourage is
delightful and they are all gathered around one interest. Congratulations on your organization talent!”
--- End --Images available at: http://contemporaryistanbul.com/en/press/press-images.htm
Press contact
Gemma Saracoglu
Contemporary Istanbul
gemma@contemporaryistanbul.com
Tel: +90 534 360 0204
Juan Sanchez
PICKLES PR
juan@picklespr.com
Tel: +44 7882 237 732
Press Contact:
Contemporary Istanbul
Gemma Saraçoğlu
gemma@contemporaryistanbul.com - +90 534 360 02 04