Biennial Istanbul 2019 Days 150 – 152 September 26 to 28th 2019
The Istanbul Biennial 2019 became the focus of our last couple of days in Istanbul. Not only were we able to experience the art: it took us to new places – an Istanbul we had not imagined.
The theme of the 2019 Bienna / Bienale / Biennale – whatever your preferred spelling – was focussed on “The Seventh Continent” referencing the large garbage continent floating in the ocean. There was much discussion amongst one of us that Australia is the Seventh Continent not the garbage patch!
Getting to the three sites was an adventure in itself. One on Büyükada, an island required a ferry ride to the largest of a group of islands known as the Princes Islands. The ferry ride offered a view of the massive spread of Istanbul with its 18 to 20million population. Incredible to think it is almost the population of all Australia.
The ferry ride of about 1.5 hours gave us time to see the sprawling city that is Istanbul. To see it pass before us, and watch the various snacks and drinks circulate all decks onboard. Often with large trays precariously balanced over the edge of the ferry.
Before even setting foot on Büyükada we had decided to one day return and stay a bit. The waterfront was filled with old buildings and restaurants, the hillside lush with mansions in ornate Ottoman- Victorian style. Across the island, buildings were in various states of repair and disrepair. Small streets filled with tiny stalls and shops selling colourful island-themed souveneirs: captains’ hats, ice-creams, flower headbands and any other temptations invented to entice tourists to buy.
The art was displayed in several mansions across the town. A great way to see the town while experiencing art. Venues included the grounds of derelict buildings, a mansion under renovation, and a building that was once the British Yacht Club. The art was wide-ranging including interviews and research with Pacific Nations about changes imposed on them, sculpture, an installation of polished Obsidian discs set in the grounds of a house and reflecting nature around, accompanied by poetry on an audio feed.
A challenging piece – and my favourite by Ursula Mayer was a video installation entitled ‘The Fire Of Knowledge Burns to Ashes All Karma’. The piece was mesmerising however sitting with it was made difficult by those posing in front of the screen endlessly taking photos of self, then leaving without realisation of the work, or that there were others around. The installation weirdly evoked gently happy -then sad feelings.
Artwork seems to elicit what we call the “Instagram effect” – mass posing and photography of works then moving on to the next without noticing the artwork. Time to contemplate the work is difficult with the parade of people moving in and out of poses across artworks. This video installation was interrupted for a lengthy time with a couple posing and reposing in front of the screen. I know just getting old and grumpy!
Hacopolo Mansion housed a series of monster figures by artist Monster Chetwynd. The now condemned building was the perfect for the figures.
Other sites visited were the Pera Museum and the Art Museum; the former a Neo-classical building near the main shopping street, the latter an industrial building on the waterfront. I found the MSFAU Museum exhibits the most challenging – many strong displays of the impact of humans on the earth. Most in a devastating format – video of huge amounts of recycled waste being moved, another with a study of the beauty of the Albatross and the impact of plastic in the ocean causing their death.
While watching a video installation on the cosmos in Pera the seat began shaking. My immediate thought was it was a “surround-sound” experience. Then almost immediately realised it was an earthquake. The theatre and surrounding gallery was suddenly exited, calmly and orderly.
The art. All that art can be: challenging, beautiful, confronting and thought-provoking.
