Monday, December 2, 2024 - 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Exhibiting Contemporaneity: Turkish Art in International Biennials, 1956–1992
This dissertation explores the representation of postwar and contemporary Turkish art in international biennials from 1956 to 1992, analyzing how Turkish artists and curators navigated the global art landscape during the Cold War. It examines Turkey’s participation in major transatlantic biennials such as Venice, São Paulo, and Paris, as well as regional biennials in Alexandria, Tehran, and Belgrade, positioning Turkish artistic practices within broader contexts of geopolitical dynamics, cultural diplomacy, and national identity. Additionally, it investigates the establishment of the Istanbul Biennial during a period of neoliberal globalization and the privatization of the cultural sphere, marking a transformative era for the Turkish art scene. Biennials, as incubators of contemporary art, served as critical platforms for global dialogues grounded in local narratives and layered histories. By framing biennials as a pivotal nexus of artistic mobility, encounter, and exchange, this study reveals how Turkish art simultaneously responded to international trends and conveyed distinct cultural narratives.
The committee consists of Terry Smith (co-chair), Alex Taylor (co-chair), Barbara McCloskey, and Anthony Gardner.