Following significant gains in local elections, Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Ekrem İmamoğlu once again led the elections during Sunday’s mayoral elections. İmamoğlu is also known for supporting cultural life in Istanbul.
Since the beginning of 2024, Istanbul locals have been pleased to see the opening of four new museums: Bulgur Palas, Istanbul Art Museum at Haliç Shipyard, Istanbul Digital Museum, and Çubuklu Round Silos.
İstanbul Sanat- Istanbul Art Museum
İstanbul Sanat has opened its doors at the Haliç Shipyard, which dates back to 1455 and is one of the oldest shipyards in the world still actively functioning. The opening took place on Sunday, March 3rd, with a presentation titled “Istanbul, Upholding its Historical Heritage” by the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The comprehensive restoration works of the Haliç Shipyard, which continues to operate under the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s City Lines Inc., were carried out by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Civil Works. At the same time, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage undertook the re-functioning process. Serving as an exemplary transformation project, the Haliç Shipyard hosts the Istanbul Art Museum, the city’s first public contemporary art museum. It incorporates social spaces such as festival areas, performance art centers, children’s art workshops, restaurants, and museum shops.
The opening exhibition titled “Ah, Beautiful Istanbul” at the Istanbul Art Museum presents a rich selection that combines various collections and institutions. The exhibition features significant collections including the Ekrem İmamoğlu Collection, Ulaş Değirmenci Collection, Mustafa Taviloğlu Collection, Merey Collection, İyem Collection, Dr. Şükrü Bozluolcay Collection, Meir Dalva Collection, Lale-Cengiz Akıncı Collection, and Bilge Collection.
The exhibition showcases the unique modernization journey from the Ottoman era to the Republic through art. Over 300 works by esteemed Turkish artists such as Hoca Ali Rıza, Şehzade Abdülmecid Efendi, Halil Paşa, İbrahim Çallı, Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, Kamet, Fikret Mualla, Hikmet Onat, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Şevket Dağ, Burhan Doğançay, Cihat Burak, Neşe Erdok, Tevfik Fikret, Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem, Mihri Hanım, Sabri Berkel, Hale Asaf, and Selma Gürbüz are presented to the audience, offering a glimpse into the richness of Turkish painting art.
Digital Experience Museum
The IMM Digital Experience Museum, which simultaneously brings Istanbul’s heritage, the future, technology, and art together, opened its doors in February 2024.
In collaboration between Kültür AŞ, a partner of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and Tuce Investment, the Digital Experience Museum has emerged as a beacon of innovation in the world of art and technology. Promising an immersive journey beyond traditional museum visits, this visionary project combines the timeless allure of culture and art with the boundless possibilities of digital technology.
Utilizing a diverse array of cutting-edge technologies, from virtual reality to artificial intelligence-supported interactive applications, the museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage directly with artworks like never before. With exhibitions meticulously curated using a multi-disciplinary approach, each corner of the museum invites exploration and interaction, pushing the boundaries of creativity and imagination.
Showcasing the ingenuity of Turkish programmers and designers, the museum’s interactive designs and software exemplify local creativity and innovation. From 3D and 4D experiences to hyper-realistic simulations, every visit promises a new story and adventure, appealing to visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
Çubuklu’s Round Silos Culture Center
For many years, the Çubuklu Silos in the Çubuklu district of Beykoz were used as fuel depots but were later abandoned. With the comprehensive restoration and repurposing efforts of IMM Heritage, the Çubuklu Silos have now gained a new identity.
Spanning a total area of 20,000 square meters, the Çubuklu Silos have transformed into a new space for the city. They will now host various multipurpose facilities such as the Digital Arts Museum, Nature and Science Museum, workshops, welcome center, stage, sky meadow, children’s play areas, café, and restaurant, welcoming the people of Istanbul. The library within the Çubuklu Silos awaits visitors with its rich archive covering fields such as literature, art, and history. The Digital Arts Museum at the newly joined Çubuklu Silos to the city’s cultural scene has opened its doors with the exhibition “Rethinking Consciousness: What is Reality?”, consisting of a selection from Ars Electronica’s traces of the digital revolution since 1979. The exhibition, located next to the Çubuklu İstinye Ferry Pier, aims to create a space for thought in the intersection of art and technology, inviting viewers to explore beyond the limits of the tangible and engage with perceptible realities. The exhibition will be open for visitors until June 10, 2024.
Bulgur Palas
The Bulgur Palas, restored by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, was opened to visitors on February 28, 2024. Newly restored venue is hosting the special 77th-year exhibition “Magnum İstanbul’da” (Magnum in Istanbul) by the world-renowned photo agency Magnum. The exhibition realized through a permanent collaboration between Magnum Photos and IMM (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality), can be visited until August 31st.
Magnum in Istanbul, features over 200 photographs by 70 artists. A dedicated section of the exhibition presents 30 photographs by Turkish photographer Emin Özmen, who became a member of the agency in 2017. Özmen, a recipient of The Bayeux Calvados Award for War Correspondents and two World Press Photo awards, is recognized for his notable contributions to the field of war journalism. The “Magnum İstanbul’da” exhibition comprises over 200 works, some of which are considered among the most iconic photographs in the world. Featured in the exhibition are works by 70 artists, including renowned photographers such as Jonas Bendiksen, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Cornell and Robert Capa, Ara Güler, David Seymour, Olivia Arthur, Raymond Depardon, Bieke Depoorter, Elliott Erwitt, Stuart Franklin, Leonard Freed, Eve Arnold, Paul Fusco, Cristina Garcia Rodero, Burt Glinn, Jim Goldberg, Marilyn Silverstone, Sergio Larrain, Susan Meiselas, Wayne Miller, Marc Riboud, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Chris Steele-Perkins, Dennis Stock, and Alex Webb.
