Istanbul Modern's Collection Exhibition Gallery to be named after Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı

Istanbul Modern's Collection Exhibition Gallery is being named after Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı. Supported by the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation, the gallery will host Istanbul Modern's tenth collection exhibition, 'Beneath the Same Blue,' as its first exhibition under its new name. Bringing together 232 works by 119 artists from Türkiye and different geographies around the world, the exhibition features 43 works on view for the first time.

Istanbul Modern reinterprets the collection it has built since the museum's founding through a new curatorial approach in 'Beneath the Same Blue.' In addition to the Collection Exhibition Gallery named after Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı, the exhibition extends into various public spaces throughout the museum. Hosting 'Beneath the Same Blue' as its first exhibition under its new name, the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Collection Exhibition Gallery forms the center of a selection that explores the transformation of modern and contemporary art in Türkiye from the 1940s to the present through historical and thematic encounters. Bringing together 232 works by 119 artists from Türkiye and different geographies around the world, the exhibition extends across all four floors of the museum, with 43 works on view for the first time.

**From the Museum's Founding to the Present **

Oya Eczacıbaşı, Chair of the Board of Istanbul Modern, said: 'The story of the Istanbul Modern Collection began when, after years of effort, the idea of establishing a museum of modern and contemporary art in Istanbul became a reality. In this process, the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation Collection became one of the sources that contributed to the development of the museum's collection. Enriched over the years by works by artists from Türkiye and around the world, our collection has today grown into a comprehensive body of work bringing together artists from different periods and generations. With the opening of 'Beneath the Same Blue,' our collection exhibition gallery will be named after Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı and supported by the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation. For us, this development holds particular significance as a continuation of the relationship that extends from the museum's founding to the present day.'

Curated by the museum's Artistic Director Çelenk Bafra and Curator Deniz Pehlivaner, with Naz Uğurlu Benek serving as assistant curator and Selen Erkal as exhibition producer, the exhibition takes its title from the color blue, which connects different times, geographies, and experiences. It brings together works produced in different periods and contexts on common ground. Evoking seas, horizons, dreams, freedom, distances, and proximity, blue creates an overarching framework for the exhibition.

A New Curatorial Perspective on the Collection

Regarding the exhibition's structure and curatorial framework, Istanbul Modern Artistic Director Çelenk Bafra said: 'We approach museum collections as intellectual structures that make visible how an institution reads the past, interprets the present, and imagines the future. Without entirely abandoning the chronological narrative of art history, 'Beneath the Same Blue' consists of sections that bring historical continuity and thematic readings together within the same framework. The color blue, from which the exhibition takes its title, provides a conceptual ground for forging new relationships across different periods, generations, and geographies.'

Drawing attention to the relationships the exhibition establishes across different periods and themes, co-curator Deniz Pehlivaner said: ''Beneath the Same Blue' invites us to rethink artistic production from the 1940s to the present through issues that remain relevant today. In the exhibition's post-2000 section, works brought together around themes such as war, migration, nature, the body, memory, and the city make visible the diverse perspectives developed by artists from different generations and geographies on today's world.'

A Historical and Thematic View of the Collection

'Beneath the Same Blue' addresses the art-historical transformation from the 1940s to the present through two main sections. The first section examines the development of modern and contemporary art in Türkiye from the 1940s to the 2000s within a historical progression. It offers a broad panorama extending from early examples of abstract art to different forms of figurative expression, and from artists' changing aesthetic approaches to social and cultural transformations.

The second section brings together a selection of post-2000 artistic production under thematic headings. Bringing together works by artists from different generations and geographies, this section addresses contemporary issues such as war, migration, memory, nature, the body, identity, the city, and space through diverse artistic practices.

The section titled 'War, Destruction, Displacement' is shaped around issues such as destruction, displacement, migration, authority, and historical trauma, while also creating space to reflect on collective memory and relationships with the past. In the 'Nature, Motif, Transformation' section, relationships among humans, animals, plants, and the environment are examined through transformation, ecological disruption, and cultural memory. Under the title 'Representation, Narrative, Tradition,' issues of body representation, gender, craft, unseen labor, and identity are explored through works by artists from different generations. The 'City, Space, Layer' section considers the city as an ever-transforming field of memory, movement, architecture, and cultural circulation.

An Exhibition Experience Extending Across Different Spaces of the Museum

'Beneath the Same Blue' is not limited to the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Collection Exhibition Gallery, but extends across all four floors of Istanbul Modern. The foyers, library, and different sections of the museum building become part of the exhibition's holistic experience. In addition to 10 thematic texts in the exhibition area, audio tours and video presentations provide visitors with more comprehensive information about the collection.

Works to Be Presented to Audiences for the First Time

In 'Beneath the Same Blue,' more than 40 works from the museum collection are presented to audiences for the first time. These include works added to the Istanbul Modern Art Museum Collection through the Women Artists Fund, such as Fatoş İrwen's 'Rosa,' Yaşam Şaşmazer's 'Taming the Darkness,' Aslı Çavuşoğlu's 'ANNEX,' and Burçak Bingöl's 'Hatayi,' as well as works by artists including Antonis Donef, Julie Mehretu, Elif Uras, and Candeğer Furtun.

A Selection Extending Across Different Floors of the Museum

Istanbul Modern continues to host important examples of sculpture and installation art in its outdoor spaces and indoor foyer areas. Alongside Bettina Pousttchi's 'Vertical Highways V02' and Anthony Cragg's 'Runner' on the museum's exterior, Liam Gillick's 'Hydrodynamica Applied,' originally installed on the former museum building as part of the 14th Istanbul Biennial, now takes its new place on the sea-facing facade of the new building.

In addition to Claudia Pagès Rabal's 'Five Defense Towers,' installed in the building's foyer areas and presented for the first time after entering the Istanbul Modern Art Museum Collection following its display at the Külah Factory during the 18th Istanbul Biennial, works returning to view in the foyer areas include Tracey Emin's 'To Hold Your Soul,' Hans Op de Beeck's 'Sleeping Girl,' Seyhun Topuz's 'Red V,' and Lee Bul's 'Untitled.'

As part of the exhibition, Halil Altındere's work from the 'Dancing with Taboos' series and Serkan Özkaya's 'Today Could Have Been a Day of Historical Importance (New York Times)' are presented in the library.

Photography Selection from the Collection

The collection exhibition also features works by some of Türkiye's most important masters of photography. Audiences encounter works by Ersin Alok, who introduced an interdisciplinary approach to Türkiye's photographic culture; Ara Güler, who was awarded the title 'Master of Leica' in 1962; Yıldız Moran, the first woman photographer in Türkiye to receive academic training in the field; and Sedat Pakay.

Exhibition Catalogue

The comprehensive catalogue accompanying 'Beneath the Same Blue' includes the essays 'The Museum's Expanding Horizon: The Collection' by Istanbul Modern Artistic Director Çelenk Bafra and 'Beneath the Same Blue' by Curator Deniz Pehlivaner, as well as 'Rethinking the Collection: On Time, Knowledge, and Representation' by Prof. Dr. Esra Aliçavuşoğlu, a member of the Istanbul Modern Collection Advisory Board.

Parallel Educational Programs

Prepared by Istanbul Modern's Education and Social Projects Department in parallel with the exhibition, workshops and educational programs offer new spaces for encounters around the collection's different periods and themes. Developed for different age groups, the programs enable visitors to engage with the works on display through diverse forms of experience and learning.

A Special Exhibition Selection at the Istanbul Modern Shop

At the Istanbul Modern Shop, a special selection of products inspired by works in 'Beneath the Same Blue' is presented to visitors alongside the exhibition catalogue.

Artists Featured in the Exhibition

Kuzgun Acar, Erdağ Aksel, Erol Akyavaş, Nevin Aladağ, Ersin Alok, Hüseyin Bahri Alptekin, Özlem Altın, Halil Altındere, Ghada Amer, Refik Anadol, Hakkı Anlı, Koray Ariş, Yüksel Arslan, Volkan Aslan, Tomur Atagök, Nancy Atakan, Vahap Avşar, Georg Baselitz, Bedri Baykam, Aliye Berger, Sabri Berkel, Burçak Bingöl, Albert Bitran, Mark Bradford, Lee Bul, Cihat Burak, Tülay Tura Börtecene, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, CANAN, Hussein Chalayan, Anthony Cragg, Aslı Çavuşoğlu, Fulya Çetin, Adnan Çoker, Richard Deacon, Nejad Melih Devrim, Tiraje Dikmen, Şükriye Dikmen, Abidin Dino, Antonis Donef, Burhan Doğançay, İpek Duben, Âbidin Elderoğlu, Olafur Eliasson, Mandy El-Sayegh, Tracey Emin, Neş’e Erdok, Cevdet Erek, Ayşe Erkmen, Erol Eskici, İnci Eviner, Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, İnci Furni, Candeğer Furtun, Attila Galatalı, Leyla Gamsız, Liam Gillick, Guerrilla Girls, Tanya Goel, Deniz Gül, Ara Güler, Bedia Güleryüz, Mehmet Güleryüz, Neşet Günal, Nedim Günsür, Selma Gürbüz, Nilbar Güreş, Altan Gürman, Gözde İlkin, Ahmet Doğu İpek, Fatoş İrwen, Balkan Naci İslimyeli, Nuri İyem, Zeki Faik İzer, Mirak Jamal, Gülsün Karamustafa, William Kentridge, Anselm Kiefer, Komet, Füreya Koral, Azade Köker, Alicja Kwade, Julie Mehretu, Yıldız Moran, Sarah Morris, Mahmoud Obaidi, Füsun Onur, Hans Op de Beeck, Julian Opie, Mübin Orhon, Kemal Önsoy, Serkan Özkaya, Claudia Pagès Rabal, Sedat Pakay, Bettina Pousttchi, Laure Prouvost, Anselm Reyle, Necla Rüzgar, Sarkis, Yaşam Şaşmazer, Nevhiz Tanyeli, Ayça Telgeren, Hale Tenger, Güneş Terkol, Canan Tolon, Seyhun Topuz, F. Tülin, Vahit Tuna, Selim Turan, Ömer Uluç, Elif Uras, Burhan Uygur, Adrián Villar Rojas, Zhan Wang, Richard Wentworth, Nil Yalter, Haegue Yang, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Yılmaz Zenger.