9 September 2013

Anish Kapoor in Istanbul at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum

S.U. Sakıp Sabancı Museum in collaboration with Akbank, hosts the first major exhibition in Turkey by leading international artist, Anish Kapoor. Sponsored by Akbank, on the occasion of their 65th year, Anish Kapoor‟s works are presented at SSM from 10 September 2013 to 5 January 2014.

The exhibition, which is curated by Sir Norman Rosenthal, is the first to focus on the artist‟s stone sculptures in marble, alabaster and other materials, many of which have not been seen in public before. The exhibition also includes iconic works such as Sky Mirror and Yellow, bringing together sculpture, architecture, engineering and technology. The highly anticipated exhibition will be presented both in the galleries and the gardens of Sakıp Sabancı Museum.

SSM Director Dr. Nazan Ölçer said: “We are thrilled to host a major exhibition by the great master of contemporary art Anish Kapoor at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum. Sometimes mobile, often of startling proportions, Anish Kapoor’s works elicit admiration and astonishment. Anish Kapoor is no stranger to Istanbul, where he has been to many times. Now here he is, bringing to our city stone pieces that he has been working on for years, many of which have never been displayed. Along with the stone pieces, iconic works such as Yellow and Sky Mirror are presented in our exhibition.”

Nazan Ölçer also said: “We are honored to have Sir Norman Rosenthal, a famous name in art circles all over the world, and a long-standing member of our Museum’s International Advisory Committee, as our exhibition curator. For years a pathfinder for contemporary art in Europe’s top art institutions, Sir Norman has been the strongest supporter and advocate for this project ever since he and Anish Kapoor visited our museum together back in 2011. But, it’s to the sponsorship of Ms. Suzan Sabancı Dinçer, as a visinory patron of the arts that we’re most indebted for this very major project at our museum. Ms. Dinçer has for years been providing immense support to the emerging platfrom for contemporary art in this country. Ever since 2011, when she, as the Chairman and the Executive Board Member of Akbank, affirmed her intention to celebrate the banks 65th year anniversary with an exhibiton by Anish Kapoor, she has continued to supppor us. Its realization is her achievement.

Sir Norman Rosenthal said: “What is especially remarkable about Anish Kapoor‟s abstract stone works, which form the focus of the exhibition, is that they have their own specific ways of defining infinities and the concepts of time. When one looks at the stone sculptures, executed over the last three decades - works fashioned from marble, onyx, alabaster, granite, sandstone and other „rocks‟ - many perspectives concerning the realities and philosophies of historical time come to mind. They invite the viewer to reflect three-fold on the mysteries of

time buried within their form and substance. Kapoor is one of the only artists who follows the most ancient traditions, of carving or shaping, in order to achieve contemporary forms, each one full of individual and suggestive meaning. Perhaps the most particular aspect of so much of Kapoor‟s work, and especially of the stone works, is a sense of agelessness, of hardly being able to guess at their moment of creation.”

Anish Kapoor said: „I am delighted to be presenting my first major exhibition in Turkey at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum where some of my marble and alabaster pieces will be shown for the first time both in the museum and outside in the gardens on the shores of the Bosphorus. I am delighted to be collaborating with Norman Rosenthal on this exhibition whom I have worked with over a number of years.”

Akbank Chairman and Executive Board Member, Suzan Sabancı Dinçer underlined that the bank has for 65 years been contributing to the stability of Turkey. “Economic and financial performance on its own, no matter how successful, can never be the sole indicator of a country‟s well-being, nor of progress and civilization. Advancements in culture and arts signify a society‟s progress and are the greatest measures of its capacity for transmitting an enduring heritage to succeeding generations as well. As Akbank, we are fully committed to supporting the advancement of our society. We regard the furthering of art and culture as one of our highest priorities,” Mrs. Sabancı Dinçer said.

Suzan Sabancı added that Akbank has, from its earliest beginnings to the present day, made a point of supporting art and culture.

“Art is part of a process of interrogation. It gives vent to the creation of diverse and creative views; and it is part of a process of clearing the ground to shape the future. We continue to support art in order to reach out to society and to ensure that an ever greater number of people are able to experience great art. We aspire to see Turkey take a prominent place in the world of artistic creativity. We strive to realize this vision by doing ever more to support to arts and artists, by organizing more events that represent Turkish arts outside our county and bybringing distinguished artists to Turkey.

Today, we take pride in uniting Anish Kapoor – one of the most prominent names in contemporary arts–together with Turkish art devotees. Hosting exhibitions of such leading artists is a source of pride and helps confirm Turkey‟s placeas a major artistic centre. This year is also the 65th anniversary of our bank and has a special meaning and importance to us. We chose to commemorate it through an artist whose work which, just as it has amazed the world, will leave a lasting impression on Istanbul and Turkey.” Suzan Sabancı commented.

Akbank CEO, Hakan Binbaşgil said that Turkey embraced a new vision with its 2023 goals. ”Economic performance is not the lone criteria for these targets. We will achieve our goals through success in different fields of human endeavor including culture, art and sport. We must bear in mind that culture and art constitute the most significant legacy for society‟s future. However, as a nation, we have to concentrate and fasten our efforts on those fronts to

further advance.”

Binbaşgil noted that Akbank levers its strength and resources to invest in Turkey‟s future as one of the most valuable firms of the country, added:

“Culture and arts is one area where we shall continue to persevere. We expand our projects in those venues to a wider spectrum. Our focus is on the big picture, on a sustainable effort and on things that last. Akbank is again lending its name to an event that brings together those who appreciate art with the unique and enchanting objects of their affection. We commemorate the 65th anniversary of our bank with the exhibition of Anish Kapoor. By supporting an exhibition of one of the world‟s most renowned contemporary artists, we believe that we are creating an event that encourages people to step back and view the world from a different angle and to think more creatively. As Akbank, we will continue to support art and artists, and to provide the opportunity for those who love art to partake of world- class artistic events.”

SSM will become the cultural center of Istanbul this autumn thanks to the conferences, panel discussions and training programmes organised in association with the exhibition. The programmewill first feature the firstpublic lecture by Anish Kapoor in Turkey. The lecture, which will provide a rare opportunity to learn about the works in the exhibition fromthe artist himself, will take place on 10 September.

Another important programme will be the seminar entitled“The Role of Contemporary Art in Classical Museums”on 11 September which will feature international museum directors.Among the speakers of the panel are Sir Norman Rosenthal, the curator of the exhibition; Prof. Dr. Martin Roth, Director of V&A Museum, London; Dr. Glenn D. Lowry, Director of MoMA, New York; Prof. Dr. Jean-Françoise Jarrige, Member of Board Condé Museum, Chateau de Chantilly; Dr. Thomas W. Lentz, Director of Harvard University Museum of Art and independent curator and art critic Deepak Ananth. The panel will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Hasan Bülent Kahraman.

SSM will also organize workshops on contemporary art in collaboration with the British Council Istanbul. Children‟s training programs and film screenings will take place throughout the exhibition.

Anish Kapoor

Anish Kapoor is one of the most influential sculptors of his generation.

He was born on 12 March 1954 in Bombay. He moved to London in the early 1970s where he has lived and worked ever since. He studied art at Hornsey College of Art (1973-1977) and at Chelsea School of Art (1977-1978). His first solo exhibition was held at Patrice Alexandre in Paris in 1980.

He quickly gained international attention and acclaim for a series of solo exhibitions at venues including: Tate Gallery, London (1990-01); Tel Aviv Museum of Art (2003); Fondazione Prada, Milano (1995); Hayward Gallery, London (1998); BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (1999); Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples (1999); Kunsthaus Bregenz (2003); MAC Grand-Hornu, Belgium (2004); Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples (2004); Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin (2008) MAK, Vienna (2009); Royal Academy of Arts, London (2009); Pinchuk Arts Centre, Kiev (2010); and Guggenheim Bilbao (2010).

His major solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 2010, showcasing a number of new and previously unseen works, was one of the most successful ever presented by a contemporary artist in London.

He has participated in many group shows internationally including those at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and Serpentine Gallery in London, Documenta IX in Kassel, Moderna Museet in Stockholm and Jeu de Paume and Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

He represented Britain at the Paris Biennale in 1982 and at the Venice Biennale in 1990, where he was awarded the „Premio Duemila‟. He won the Turner Prize in 1991 and he received the prestigious Unilever Commission for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern in 2002, which he realised with the much-acclaimed work, Marsyas. Earlier this year his specially commissioned work Leviathan was unveiled in the nave of the Grand Palais in Paris in the Monumenta series.

Throughout his career he has worked extensively with architects and engineers on projects including Tees Valley Giants, a series of five large-scale sculptures created in collaboration with the leading structural engineer, Cecil Balmond, the first of which, Temenos, will be unveiled in Middlesbrough in June 2010. He created the site-specific work, The Farm for the outdoor art gallery of the same name in Kaipara Bay, north of Auckland, New Zealand.

Among his major permanent commissions is Cloud Gate (2004) for the Millennium Park in Chicago, considered to be the most popular public artwork in the world. He was awarded the commission with Cecil Balmond for a permanent artwork for the London 2010 Olympic Park, the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

He recently acted as Guest Artistic Director of the Brighton Festival 2009. He was elected Royal Academician in 1999 and has been awarded Honorary Fellowships by the London Institute and Leeds University (1997), University of Wolverhampton (1999) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (2001). He was awarded a knighthood in 2013.

He is represented by the Lisson Gallery, London; Gladstone Gallery, New York; Kukje Gallery, Seoul, and Galleria Continua and Galleria Massimo Minini in Italy.