Istanbul Modern launches its “International Artist Residency Program”

Artists from all over the world have been invited to participate in Istanbul Modern’s “International Artist Residency Program”, launched in 2019 with the support of the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA). The program is the first of its kind to be organized by a museum in Turkey and will bring contemporary artists, architects, and designers from around the world to Istanbul to collaborate with local artisans.

10 international guest artists are coming to Istanbul to collaborate with artisans.

Istanbul Modern has announced the names of the artists who will participate in its first International Artist Residency Program, a project supported by the Innovative and Creative Istanbul Financial Support Program of the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA) that will contribute greatly to the promotion of Turkey abroad.

The participating artists are:

Faig Ahmed (Baku), Rana Begum (London), Benji Boyadgian (Jerusalem), Rodrigo Hernandez (Mexico City), Servet Koçyiğit (Amsterdam), Outi Pieski (Helsinki), Randi & Katrine (Copenhagen), Wael Shawky (Alexandria and Philadelphia), and Jorinde Voigt (Berlin).

The selected artists focus on the themes of craft and tradition in their production processes or work with different materials and techniques. They have also participated in international biennials and exhibitions and their works are featured in the collections of leading museums and art institutions worldwide. Aside from creating opportunities for creative collaboration, theprogram aims to enhance the visibility of Istanbul’s innovative and creative potential.

Works to be exhibited in 2020 at Istanbul Modern

Participating artists will spend a total of six weeks in Istanbul. During their stay, they will meet different artisans at their workshops in Istanbul and choose one to work with. The works that they produce during the program will be exhibited at Istanbul Modern in 2020 and a catalogue accompanying the exhibition will provide a record of the project. During the program, the museum will also hold workshops with the artists, as well as organize public programs and educational workshops in conjunction with the exhibition.

Artists to participate in the International Artist Residency Program:

Servet Koçyiğit, 1971

Born in 1971, Servet Koçyiğit studied visual arts at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. At various times in his career, Koçyiğit lived and worked in different parts of the world, including Germany, France, Israel, and South Africa. The artist currently lives and works between Amsterdam and Istanbul. Koçyiğit has exhibited his work in art institutions in many different countries around the world including Belgium, Israel, France, Germany, Norway, China, the Netherlands, and Poland. He has also participated in a number of biennials including the 9th Istanbul Biennial (2005); De Kleine Biennale in Utrecht, the Netherlands (2006), and the 27th Sao Paulo Biennial, Brazil (2006). The artist was also awarded the Shpilman International Prize for Excellence in Photography in 2016, and the Photographer of the Year Award at the Lianzhou International Photography Festival in 2012.

From Istanbul Modern © press release

Servet Kocyigit is winner of “ New best photographer of the year “ at Lianzhou Foto 2012, China