My fitst encounter with IKSV’S Istanbul Biennial was that of Rene Block’s which was the 4th Istanbul Biennial in 1995. I do not recall any other Istanbul Biennal that has captivated my imagination as that of Block’s.
Rene Block
I have been trying to be a loyal visitor to Istanbul Biennial all throughout the decades. And here it is with us with full force, again. The 18th Istanbul Biennial, titled The Three-Legged Cat, is curated by Christine Tohmé and unfolds over three years, from 2025 to 2027. The first leg, currently underway until November 23, 2025, is free to the public and features 47 artists from over 30 countries across eight venues in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu–Karaköy district. ..The biennial is hosted in historic venues such as the Galata Greek School, Zihni Han, and the Garden of the Former French Orphanage. (https://bienal.iksv.org/en)
Garden of the former French Orphanage
The Biennal this year takes its inspiration from the accelerated destruction, forced migrations, and uncontrollable crises which are shattering all horizons and possibilities for the future. IKVS website continues with the following words: Our bodies, confronted with a constantly shrinking present, are forced to keep pace with many different rhythms: some fast, some slow, some broken. Trapped in a dual movement, stumbling and then moving forward, we struggle to take the step that would allow us to stay balanced. Like cats, we too spin around ourselves, coil, disappear, and reemerge. While trying to find our direction, we learn to rest, and at the same time, we take care of the fragments of ourselves that need protection and repair. (https://bienal.iksv.org/en/18th-istanbul-biennial/conceptual-framework)
So if you are in Istanbul in September, make sure to visit the different venues across the city to be immersed in the imagination of various artists ready to take you away!
