Arter (art center)


Arter is a non-profit art space in Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey. The space is an affiliate of the Vehbi Koç Foundation.
Arter was opened in 2010 with the aim of providing a sustainable infrastructure for producing and exhibiting contemporary art. At its building on Istiklal Street, Arter presented 35 solo and group exhibitions between 2010–2018 with accompanying publications, talks, performances and workshops; and provided support for the production of 183 artworks in the framework of its exhibitions.
Arter has recently moved to its new home in Dolapdere, which opened to the public on 13 September 2019.

Building

Arter was active at a historical building on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street between 2010–2019.
In 2019, Arter moved to its new premises in the Dolapdere district. Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the new building has 18,000 square meters of indoor area. In addition to exhibition galleries and a sculpture terrace, the building houses performance halls, learning areas, a library, a conservation laboratory, an arts bookstore, and a café.
Arter's former building on Istiklal Street re-opened in September 2019 as an exhibition space named Meşher, operated by the Vehbi Koç Foundation.

History

Between 2010–2018, Arter has presented 26 solo and 9 group exhibitions.   
Arter's inaugural exhibition "Starter" presented more than 160 works by 87 artists, all belonging to the Vehbi Koç Foundation Contemporary Art Collection.
In line with its mission to support artistic production, Arter has encouraged the creation of new works for each exhibition. "Second Exhibition" and "Envy, Enmity, Embarrassment" were two exhibitions solely of commissioned works, both curated by Emre Baykal.
Within the context of new productions, Arter also initiated Sound Art Project, a series dedicated to sonic arts, beginning with Erdem Helvacıoğlu's exhibition "Freedom to the Black" and continuing with Sarkis’ exhibition "Interpretation of Cage / Ryoanji" , both curated by Melih Fereli.
Between 15 November 2013 and 12 January 2014, Arter introduced "Bahane" on its second floor, a shared space "for exploring, working and hanging out either individually or collectively". Conceptually linked with the three concurrent solo exhibitions on Arter's remaining floors, Bahane was conceived by İlkay Baliç and İz Öztat as a collective space where people browsed and read books; explored videos, films and documentaries; and participated in workshops, discussions and talks or simply hung out.
Furthermore, Arter hosted the Istanbul Biennial as one of the main venues for its 13th and 14th editions as well as the 4th edition of the .

Publications

Between 2010–2018, Arter's programme has featured bilingual publications that accompany each exhibition. Each Arter book is a self-standing publication tailored to respond to the conceptual framework of an exhibition both in terms of editorial structure and design.
In 2013, the exhibition book The Stones Talk, designed by Esen Karol, has been selected amongst the best 50 book designs at the 50 Books/50 Covers competition organized by Design Observer. In 2014, the book of Füsun Onur's "Through the Looking Glass" exhibition, again designed by Esen Karol, has been included in the same selection. Designed by Ali Emre Doğramacı, the exhibition book Isle has been awarded by the Turkish Graphic Designers Association in the category of Best Book Design in 2018.
To this date, Arter has published 41 books in the context of its exhibition programme.
As of 2019, Arter has initiated two new publication series which accompany the opening of the institution’s new building in Dolapdere: the first is entitled Arter Close-Up and offers a closer look into a selected work from its collection; which contains more than 1,300 works as of 2019. The second publication series, Arter Background, reveals the thinking process behind each group exhibition.
List of publications:
2019
“What Time Is It?”
13 September 2019–9 February 2020
Curators: Emre Baykal & Eda Berkmen
“Words Are Very Unnecessary”
13 September 2019–8 March 2020
Curator: Selen Ansen
“Altan Gürman”
13 September 2019–9 February 2020
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
“İnci Furni: She Waited for a While”
13 September 2019–26 January 2020
Curator: Eda Berkmen
“Ayşe Erkmen: Whitish”
13 September 2019–8 March 2020
Curator: Emre Baykal
“Rosa Barba: The Hidden Conference”
13 September 2019–19 January 2020
Emre Baykal
"Céleste Bousier Mougenot: offroad, v.2”
13 September–15 December 2019
Curator: Selen Ansen
2018
Ali Mahmut Demirel, “Isle”
16 March–15 July 2018
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
Can Aytekin, “Empty House”
16 March–15 July 2018
Curator: Eda Berkmen
2017
Jake & Dinos Chapman, "In the Realm of the Senseless"
10 February–7 May 2017
Curator: Nick Hackworth
CANAN, "Behind Mount Qaf"
12 September 2017 – 18 February 2018
Curator: Nazlı Gürlek
“Ways of Seeing”
2 June 2017 – 13 August 2017
Curators: Sam Bardaouil & Till Fellrath
Artists: Ghada Amer, Chris Bond, Cantagalli, David Claerbout, Jojakim Cortis & Adrian Sonderegger, Hayri Çizel, Salvador Dali, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Andreas Gursky, Mona Hatoum, Jeppe Hein, Paul & Marlene Kos, Alicja Kwade, Gustav Metzger, Shana Moulton, Vik Muniz, Grayson Perry, Walid Raad, Edouard Frederic Wilhelm Richter, Fred Sandback, Markus Schinwald, Hassan Sharif, Cindy Sherman, Kim Tschang-Yeul, James Turrell, Kara Walker, James Webb, Frederik de Wit
2016
Bahar Yürükoğlu, "Flow Through"
30 March–15 May 2016
Curator: Duygu Demir
Murat Akagündüz, "Vertigo"
30 March–15 May 2016
Curator: Aslı Seven
Şener Özmen, "Unfiltered"
30 March–15 May 2016
Curator: Süreyyya Evren
2015
Šejla Kamerić, "When the Heart Goes Bing Bam Boom"
11 December 2015 – 28 February 2016
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
Spaceliner
5 May–2 August 2015
Curator: Barbara Heinrich
Artists: Peter Anders, Sandra Boeschenstein, Pip Culbert, İnci Eviner, Monika Grzymala, Nic Hess, Gözde İlkin, Harry Kramer, Pauline Kraneis, Hans Peter Kuhn, Zilla Leutenegger, Pia Linz, Christiane Löhr, Ulrike Mohr, Jong Oh, Nadja Schöllhammer, Heike Weber
Ali Kazma, "timemaker"
30 January–5 April 2015
Curator: Emre Baykal
2014
The Roving Eye - Contemporary Art from Southeast Asia
18 September 2014 – 4 January 2015
Curator: Iola Lenzi
Artists: Alwin Reamillo, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Aung Ko, Aung Myint, Bui Cong Khanh, Chris Chong Chan Fui, Dinh Q. Le, Duto Hardono, FX Harsono, Heri Dono, Isabel & Alfredo Aquilizan, Ise Roslisham, Jakkai Siributr, Jason Lim, Josephine Turalba, Krisna Murti, Lee Wen, Luong Hue Trinh & Nguyen Xuan Son, Manit Sriwanichpoom, Melati Suryodarmo, Mella Jaarsma, Michael Shaowanasai, Nguyen Van Cuong, Restu Ratnaningtyas, Srey Bandaul, Sutee Kunavichayanont, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi, Tay Wei Leng, Vasan Sitthiket, Vertical Submarine, Vu Dan Tan, Yee I-Lann
Füsun Onur, "Through the Looking Glass"
28 May–17 August 2014
Curator: Emre Baykal
Marc Quinn, "The Sleep of Reason"
8 February–27 April 2014
Curator: Selen Ansen
2013
Aslı Çavuşoğlu, "The Stones Talk"
15 November 2013 – 12 January 2014
Curator: Özge Ersoy
Fatma Bucak, "Yet Another Story About the Fall"
15 November 2013 – 12 January 2014
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
Sarkis, "Interpretation of Cage / Ryoanji"
15 November 2013 – 12 January 2014
Curator: Melih Fereli
Mat Collishaw, "Afterimage"
2 May–11 August 2013
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
Volkan Aslan, "Don’t Forget to Remember"
2 May–11 August 2013
Curator: Emre Baykal
Envy, Enmity, Embarrassment
24 January–7 April 2013
Curator: Emre Baykal
Artists: Selim Birsel, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, CANAN, Aslı Çavuşoğlu, Merve Ertufan & Johanna Adebäck, Nilbar Güreş, Berat Işık, Şener Özmen, Yusuf Sevinçli, Erdem Taşdelen, Hale Tenger, Mahir Yavuz
2012
Adel Abidin, Rosa Barba, Runa Islam, "The Move"
5 October–18 November 2012
Curator: Başak Şenova
Sophia Pompéry, "The Silent Shape of Things"
21 June–26 August 2012
Curator: Ece Pazarbaşı
Berlinde De Bruyckere, "The Wound"
21 June–26 August 2012
Curator: Selen Ansen
Nevin Aladağ, "Stage"
6 April–27 May 2012
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
Mona Hatoum, "You Are Still Here"
17 March–27 May 2012
Curator: Emre Baykal
Erdem Helvacıoğlu, "Freedom to the Black"
10–26 February 2012
Curator: Melih Fereli
2011
Kutluğ Ataman, "Mesopotamian Dramaturgies"
15 September–11 December 2011
Curator: Emre Baykal
Deniz Gül, "5 Person Bufet"
8 July–25 September 2011
Curator: Emre Baykal
Patricia Piccinini, "Hold Me Close to Your Heart"
22 June–21 August 2011
Curator: Başak Doğa Temür
Tactics of Invisibility
9 April–5 June 2011
Curators: Daniela Zyman, Emre Baykal
Artists: Nevin Aladağ, Kutluğ Ataman, Cevdet Erek, Ayşe Erkmen, Esra Ersen, İnci Eviner, Nilbar Güreş, Hafriyat, Ali Kazma, Füsun Onur, Sarkis, Hale Tenger, Nasan Tur, xurban_collective
2010
Second Exhibition
28 November 2010 – 13 March 2011
Curator: Emre Baykal
Artists:.-_-., Halil Altındere, Burak Arıkan, Volkan Aslan, Vahap Avşar, Banu Cennetoğlu – Yasemin Özcan Kaya, Ayşe Erkmen, Hafriyat, Ali Kazma, Aydan Murtezaoğlu – Bülent Şangar, Ahmet Öğüt, İz Öztat, Cengiz Tekin, Canan Tolon
Starter - Works from the Vehbi Koç Foundation Contemporary Art Collection
8 May–31 October 2010
Curator: René Block
Artists: Adel Abidin, Lene Adler Petersen, Nevin Aladağ, Halil Altındere, Lauri Astala, Fikret Atay, Ay-O, Maja Bajević, Joseph Beuys, Barbara Bloom, Claus Böhmler, George Brecht, KP Brehmer, Elina Brotherus, Stanley Brouwn, John Cage, Sophie Calle, Mircea Cantor, Olga Chernysheva, Giuseppe Chiari, Anetta Mona Chişa & Lucia Tkáčová, Henning Christiansen, John Coplans, Cengiz Çekil, Braco Dimitrijević, Maria Eichhorn, Cevdet Erek, Ayşe Erkmen, Harun Farocki, Robert Filliou, Terry Fox, Dan Graham, Asta Gröting, Nilbar Güreş, Kristján Gudmundsson, Richard Hamilton, Al Hansen, Dick Higgins, Rebecca Horn, K.H. Hödicke, Joe Jones, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Šejla Kamerić, Aino Kannisto, Allan Kaprow, Gülsün Karamustafa, Diána Keller, William Kentridge, Alison Knowles, Servet Koçyiğit, Julius Koller, Jarosław Kozłowski, Arthur Köpcke, Konrad Lueg, George Maciunas, Walter Marchetti, Olaf Metzel, Mandana Moghaddam, Aydan Murtezaoğlu, Zoran Naskovski, Navid Nuur, Miklos Onucsan, Ahmet Öğüt, Erkan Özgen, Ebru Özseçen, Nam June Paik, Dan Perjovschi, Goran Petercol, Sigmar Polke, Sophia Pompéry, Diter Rot, Annette Ruenzler, Reiner Ruthenbeck, Michael Sailstorfer, Karin Sander, Carles Santos, Stuart Sherman, Serge Spitzer, Superflex, Bülent Şangar, Cengiz Tekin, Endre Tót, Nasan Tur, Ben Vautier, Wolf Vostell, Emmett Williams, Maaria Wirkkala