Generous readers,
Since I’ve reported on this in August 2023, the opacity crisis in Istanbul’s art scene has become even more widespread. At the same time, there has been a flurry of changes and protests that revitalised Istanbul, at a time when many expected silent obedience in the wake of Turkish strongman Erdoğan’s electoral victory in May.
So here is my latest reporting for ArtReview. This “update on revolt, discussions and developments in the city following months of crisis” features, among other things, three courtroom sketches by Oğul Arda Biçer and Zana Maran.
While reporting this piece over the past month, I hit numerous walls: increasingly, nobody wants to be on record while discussing politics and institutions in this country. Still, I hope this report unearths a number of previously ignored stories.
Until next time,
—Kaya