The contemporary arts scene is rapidly changing. In Turkey and throughout the world, talented students’ works are featured in galleries and auctions. Star artists are surrounded by the media and collectors, and creative individuals are able to go through a fast-paced sultanate period until the next star candidate takes the stage. These “young generation” collectors make an effort to acquire the creations of artists close to their own generation.
“Young Collectors” is put together by the curator Haşim Nur Gürel and co-curator Billur Tansel. The works are evaluated in relation to art history by Burcu Pelvanoğlu. Collectors’ or collection-related texts give clues to the show’s formation.
Selected works of the collectors Ahu Büyükkuşoğlu Serter, Ebru Özdemir, Hüma Kabakçı, Mehmet Ali Bakanay and Tansa Mermerci Ekşioğlu will be on view at the Elgiz Museum until May 7. In addition, there will be a variety of events parallel to the exhibition.
The artists whose works will be on view during this exhibition are: Ali Taptık, Ahmet Oran, Ardan Özmenoğlu, Azade Köker, Burak Delier, Emin Ansen Atilla, Erinç Seymen, Haluk Akakçe, Hatice Güleryüz, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, Iman Issa, Klara Kristalova, Mat Collishaw, Necla Rüzgar, Nezaket Ekici, Nilbar Güreş, Patrik Kovacovsky, Ramazan Bayrakoğlu, Robert Montgomery, Shahpour Pouyan, Sophie Calle, Susan Hefuna, Taner Ceylan, Volkan Aslan and Yuşa Yalçıntaş.
This exhibition was organized at the Elgiz Museum; a selection of works from 5 young collectors from Turkey was displayed.
A selection entitled ‘Young Collectors’ is being installed for viewing, in the temporary exhibition area of the Elgiz Museum.
This selection has been planned with the five works that the museum curatorial team has selected from amongst the artworks suggested by the collectors that were invited for this exhibition.
The concept of this exhibition has found its origin in the desire of the Elgiz family to give support to young collectors. The family, pioneer in many ways, starting with the initiation of the first contemporary art museum in Istanbul 14 years ago, and the many different contemporary art happenings that the public witnessed there for the first time, is now realizing another novelty in its premises. After the first few years as an experimental art space, its founders who were collectors, had decided to turn it into a private collection museum, sharing their prestigious and international collection with the public. They are now giving an opportunity to young collectors to follow in their footsteps.
Since centuries, artists have worked at changing periods: at times some left behind traces, while others worked away rather quietly. Although some were more visible and had been heard of, each has left an important mark in the past as present day culture. Collectors help sustain these values; specific works have given them an entirely different understanding and value system.
If we consider that following generations will have a cultural fabric that has been marked by these traces, art has to be the most just tool to carry forms or traces of general cultural theory. In this sense, the collector’s responsibility of sharing that collection goes without saying. The five artworks that take part in the selection gives us an opportunity to observe the collectors’ reasons of starting this journey, their selections and their directions in the adventure of collectorship.
What is collection? What is collectorship? This exhibition realized at such a time when cultural values, due to societal erosions, are faced with high risks of disappearing; the background color chosen by the curator, by joining in the discourse of the exhibition, creates a dynamic, vivacious and living atmosphere. The artworks suggested by the collectors, that use contemporary presentation techniques such as 3 Dimensional and video installation displays, reflect the era’s spirit on a visual and auditory level as well.
Elgiz Museum would hereby like to thank the collectors that showed the devotion of entrusting and sharing their collection in this exhibition. By realizing the first young collectors exhibition, our museum continues its mission to create new solidarities amongst the actors of the artworld. The future will be shaped in a more sophisticated manner if young collectors continue to support our artists and their productions.
Billur Tansel
Museum Director, Co-curator of the exhibition
Foreword from the Young Collectors’ Exhibition Catalogue
