The Istanbul Biennial at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) has announced today that curator Kevser Güler was appointed as the new director of the Istanbul Biennial. The appointment is made public a mere days after the previous director, Bige Örer, declared that she will be stepping down after 15 years at the job, on 2 January 2024. İKSV’s announcement highlights that Güler has worked with the Istanbul Biennial between 2007–2014. She was then part of the founding team of the Cappadox Festival Contemporary Art Programme and its associate curator between 2015–2017, conducted research on Arter’s collection between 2014–2019 and worked as curator and exhibitions director at Yapı Kredi Culture and Arts from 2020 to 2021.
Güler takes on the role amid controversy following the announcement that Iwona Blazwick will be the curator of the 2024 biennial last summer. Public criticism of the selection process ensued, including an open letter published in October where artists and other art professionals called for ‘better Istanbul Biennials’. Writer Kaya Genç, who has been following and reporting on this ongoing concern for ArtReview, has tied these issues to government pressure on the fields of arts and culture in Turkey. An open forum about the unethical practices in how art is commissioned, produced and distributed in Turkey is being organised on 7 January 2024 in Istanbul. A report from Genç for ArtReview will follow.
Güler will take on her new role on 15 January 2024. The 18th Istanbul Biennial, curated by Iwona Blazwick, will take place between 14 September–17 November 2024.
