Proje4L / Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art celebrates Istanbul as the European Capital of Culture, 2010.

Elgiz Museum is proud to take part in this historical occasion and contribute to Istanbul’s soaring cultural scene with special exhibitions; “Chaotic Metamorphosis”, curated by Burcu Pelvanoglu and a site-specific project by Canan Dagdelen.

The description of Istanbul as the capital of culture is most commonly associated with its cultural heritage from the Byzantine and Ottoman past. Particularly in visual arts and architecture, the primary images that spring to mind are that of ramparts, cisterns, palaces, domes, minarets, calligraphy and miniatures. Elgiz Museum complements 2010 cultural happenings that highlight city’s historical charm with a youthful look. The museum presents a snapshot of the Turkish contemporary art scene and the dynamic culture of the city from the perspective of a young curator, Burcu Pelvanoglu with “Chaotic Metamorphosis’, opening on April 29, 2010. The exhibition refers both to the transformation of the art environment of Turkey and to the rapid development of Istanbul. As an assemblage of artworks of diverse media from Turkish contemporary artists, ‘Chaotic Metamorphosis’ reflects the effect of various layers of these simultaneous, ongoing transfigurations on artistic production of the day.

To honor Istanbul as the European Capital of Culture, the museum will host a site-specific installation by Canan Dagdelen, the accomplished Turkish artist living and working in Vienna. This contribution reflects the growing recognition of Turkish art out of borders and highlights the importance of cultural exchange in art. Dagdelen’s work explores the relation amongst history, architecture and human being from a unique perspective.

In the main hall of the museum, a selection from the Elgiz Collection with works of established and rising Turkish and international artists will also be on view throughout 2010. The collection will continue to support the integration of Turkish art into the globalization process.