Considered one of the most esteemed contemporary art events in the world, Istanbul Biennial has been up and running since 1987. Taking place every other year, this vibrant celebration of modern art brings together artists, curators and art critics from Turkey and beyond. According to its organisers, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), the aim of the Istanbul Biennial is to ‘enable a dialogue between artists and the audience through the work of the artists instead of a national representation model.’

The Biennial’s curators, who are appointed by a dedicated international advisory board, are given the responsibility of developing a conceptual framework for the participating artists.  In 2011, the Istanbul Biennial will take place between September 17^th and November 13^th 2011, and will be co-curated by established artists Adriano Pedrosa and Jens Hoffman. ‘Untitled (12th Istanbul Biennial), 2011’ is the name given to Istanbul Biennial 2011, in reference to Cuban American artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres, whose minimalist works reflect the idea that ‘the personal is political and the political is personal.’

In 2011, five group exhibitions will take places including “Untitled” (Passport), “Untitled” (Ross), “Untitled” (Death by Gun), “Untitled” (Abstraction) and “Untitled” (History), all of which are inspired by titles from Torres’ works. There will also be forty-five solo presentations. With its plethora of stunning historical buildings and venues, Istanbul is the perfect location for a biennale, and the many art galleries and museums also come alive as fine arts lovers swarm the city.

Special tickets for the Istanbul Biennial can be purchased in advance from http://www.biletix.com; these give participants unlimited access to all events and exhibitions taking place. It also offers ticket holders the opportunity to attend a special preview prior to the public opening.

In keeping with the creative mood, it’s worth exploring some of Istanbul’s other inspiring places:

Constantine Art Gallery & Café – Situated at the heart of the old city, Constantine Art Gallery is home to an exciting range of works by talented young artists. It’s the perfect place to chill with an iced coffee or cappuccino while taking in some of Turkey’s newest creative talents.

Ozlem Tuna Design Zone - Combining traditional Turkish motifs with contemporary design, this Istanbul design store was founded by renowned designer Ozlem Tuna and stocks a unique collection of jewellery and homeware. 

Dhoku & Ethnicon – These two stores in the Grand Bazaar offer a delightfully unusual take on the Turkish carpet and kilim trade. While Dhoku sells contemporary style, 100% wool kilims, Ethnicon takes fabric scraps from old Anatolian textiles and sews them together in patchwork style.

Cocoon - Staying true to their slogan, “Seeing comes before words”, Cocoon presents a visual feast for shoppers. The store is famous for its Central Asian-inspired felt hats along with eyecatching tie-dyed textiles and boutique souvenirs.

For more information on Istanbul and a comprehensive guide to everything the city has to offer, please visit mydestination.com/istanbul.

Helen Simpson, My Destination Istanbul
September 2011