9th International Istanbul Biennial: "Istanbul"

The title of the 9th Istanbul Biennial is simply 'Istanbul'. Curated by Charles Esche and Vasıf Kortun with assistant curators Esra Sarigedik and November Paynter, it refers both to the real urban location and the imaginative charge that this city represents for the world. 'Istanbul' as a metaphor, as a prediction, as a lived reality, and an inspiration has many stories to tell and the Biennial will attempt to tap directly into this rich history and possibility.

The curators have selected 53 artists and artist groups. Around half have been invited to live and work in İstanbul for between one and six months. In contradistinction, the other half of the Biennial is made up of work from elsewhere around the world. These act as comparisons and conflicts with Istanbul itself, allowing the visitors to see this city more clearly through other urban and rural narratives. Many of these artists are based in cities with a strong historical connection to İstanbul, from Cairo to Prishtinë, Almaty to Berlin.
The 2005 Istanbul Biennial promises a distinctive approach to the burgeoning phenomenon of international biennials, one that is rooted in the place it is shown while always looking out at what is relevant for the rest of the world.