Press Release
Istanbul, June 2014
CONTEMPORARY ISTANBUL OUTSPREADS ITS TEAM BY
INTRODUCING THE NEW PROGRAM DIRECTOR MARCUS GRAF !
Marcus Graf is announced as Contemporary Istanbul’s Program Director. He will overlook all the projects
and side programs of the fair. This includes CI Dialogues talk program, CI curated exhibitions and artistic
program.
He was chosen by the Advisory Board due to his expertise in the art field and his previous impressive
experiences.
Marcus Graf (Dr. Phil.) was born in 1974 in Germany. After studying Cultural Sciences and Esthetical
Communication in the Institute for Fine Arts, Aesthetics and Art History at the University of Hildesheim in Germany,
he has worked for several institutions of art and culture as a curator, instructor, writer, project manager
and artist. He received his PhD in 2010 from the Institute of Contemporary Art History, Aesthetic and Art Theory
at Stuttgart Art Academy in Germany and became Assoc. Prof. for Contemporary Art History and Theory at the
Fine Art Faculty at Yeditepe University, where he teaches since 2003.
Graf lives and works in Istanbul since 2001. He has been the curator of several projects and institutions
such as Siemens Sanat, Aviva Art Program, and the co-curator of the 10th Istanbul Biennial Project nightcomers.
Additionally, he is the co-founder of 5533-IMÇ Contemporary Art Space and Under Construction- Tepe İnşaat
Contemporary Art Space. Currently, Marcus Graf is the resident curator of Plato Sanat.
Contemporary Istanbul 9th Edition
The leading art fair that brings international focus to the dynamic art scene in the unique
metropolis, will take place from November 13th to November 16th 2014 at the Istanbul
Congress Centre and the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICEC). The cross-over of
Contemporary Istanbul, Istanbul Design Biennial and Art Istanbul Week will make Istanbul the
core or/and heart of a broad international art audience.
For the second year running an addition to the fair is Plug-In New Media Section,
dedicated to showcasing video art and new media in adjacent 1000 square meters area, and which
was a spectacular success last year, will present video art, sound and light installations, interactive
and generative design installations by established and emerging artists along with leading galleries.
A comprehensive CI Dialogues talk program will complement the second year of Plug-In Istanbul
alongside New Horizons program themed around “The Other Art: Alternatives. Choices. Options”.
Çağdaş İstanbul Sanat Organizasyon ve Yatırımları A.Ş.
Mete Cad. No 10/11 Taksim 34437 İstanbul Tel: +90 212 244 7171 Fax: +90 212 244 7181
www.contemporaryistanbul.com info@contemporaryistanbul.com
New Horizons; section of Contemporary Istanbul curated by Massimo Torrigiani and
Davide Quadrio, represents a specific country by offering an annual focus of contemporary art
from the selected geographic region. 2014’s Contemporary Istanbul edition will put a spotlight on
China. In the recent decades China has participated with expanding and growing success in
worldwide contemporary art and will be Contemporary Istanbul’s guest country. The 9th
edition’s focus is on China, hosting galleries, artists, curators, publications, art critics and
collectors from China in Istanbul Congress Center part of the fair.
Notes to Editors:
Here are the key points of the 8th edition:
•
95 contemporary art galleries from 22 countries participated.
•
The fair attracted 72,000 art lovers throughout the 5 days, an increase of 20% in the
number of visitors compared to the last year.
Visitor Information:
Contemporary Istanbul 9th edition
13-16 November 2014
Preview 12 November
www.contemporaryistanbul.com
facebook.com/Contemporaryistanbul
twitter.com/Contemporaryist
Çağdaş İstanbul Sanat Organizasyon ve Yatırımları A.Ş.
Mete Cad. No 10/11 Taksim 34437 İstanbul Tel: +90 212 244 7171 Fax: +90 212 244 7181
www.contemporaryistanbul.com info@contemporaryistanbul.com
For more information
Gemma Saraçoğlu
Contemporary Istanbul
gemma@contemporaryistanbul.com
+90 534 360 02 04
Juan Sanchez
Rhiannon Pickles PR
juan@picklespr.com
+44 788 223 7732
Çağdaş İstanbul Sanat Organizasyon ve Yatırımları A.Ş.
Mete Cad. No 10/11 Taksim 34437 İstanbul Tel: +90 212 244 7171 Fax: +90 212 244 7181
www.contemporaryistanbul.com info@contemporaryistanbul.com