Birgit Lohmann, designboom editor-in-chief at Istanbul Design Symposium titled "Why Design? Why Biennial?" (2-3 December 2010), a pre-event of the Design Biennial.
Istanbul Design Biennial
Imperfection
Istanbul Design Biennial announces its theme.
13 October-16 December 2012
tasarimbienali.iksv.org/en
The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and the Arts (IKSV), will present the first Istanbul Design Biennial, which will take place from October 13 to December 16, 2012.
The Istanbul Design Biennial will explore a wide range of fields, from urban to architecture, interior, industrial, graphic, fashion, textile and new media design. Exhibitions, thematic installations, workshops, seminars and presentations will take place throughout Istanbul, linked by the unifying theme of the first biennial: Imperfection.
The first Istanbul Design Biennial has adopted this theme at the suggestion of Mr. Deyan Sudjic, a member of its advisory board who is the Director of the Design Museum in London.
"Imperfection is the theme of the first Istanbul Design Biennial, and there is nowhere better to explore it than in Istanbul, a city of infinite layers, charged with the vitality that comes from engaging with rapid urban, social and cultural change. Istanbul as a city, is far from perfect, yet it is one of the most exhilarating and dynamic centres in the world. Its special quality is that it makes so much from the imperfect, the inexact and the provisional. As a theme, "Imperfection" will both celebrate Istanbul's distinctive creative qualities and encapsulate a wider discussion about the nature of design in the contemporary world. It will tell the world something about Istanbul and offer the world a sharp insight into the nature of contemporary design. Imperfection is a new take on old ideas. (…)"
Full text for the Istanbul Design Biennial theme can be found on the website: tasarimbienali.iksv.org/en/biennial/theme
The biennial theme will be interpreted by different curators at various venues in the city.
An open call for designers who are interested in taking part will be made in October 2011.
The Istanbul Design Biennial is an initiative of the Istanbul foundation for Culture and the Arts. It is aided by an advisory committee.
Istanbul Design Biennial Advisory Board Members are: (in alphabethical order)
Associate Professor Mr. Mehmet Asatekin
Industrial designer, Faculty Member at Bahçesehir University
Mr. George Beylerian
Founder of Material ConneXion
Mr. Levent Çalikoglu
Art Historian, Chief curator at Istanbul Modern
Mr. Bülent Erkmen
Graphic Designer, Founder of BEK Design and Consultancy
Prof. John Heskett Dean of Design Faculty at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Ms. Defne Koz
Industrial Designer, Founder of Defne Koz Studio
Mr. Faruk Malhan
Architect, founder of Koleksiyon Mobilya
Mr. Alphan Manas
Futurist, Brightwell Holding Chair of the Board of Directors
Ms. Sevil Peach
Founder of Sevil Peach Architecture & Design
Deyan Sudjic
Director of the Design Museum, London
Prof. Ugur Tanyeli
Architect, Faculty Member of Yildiz Technical University Faculty of Architecture and Editor-In-Chief of Arredamento Architecture Magazine
Prof. Ilhan Tekeli
Honorary Member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences
Mr. Alexander von Vegesack
Chairman of the Board of Vitra Design Foundation
Istanbul Design Biennial
Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Sadi Konuralp Caddesi No: 5
Sishane 34433 Istanbul
T: +90 212 334 07 65-66
F: +90 212 334 07 19
ist.designbiennial@iksv.org
tasarimbienali.iksv.org/en
Media Relations
Ms. Elif Obdan
T: + 90 212 334 07 13
F: + 90 212 334 07 16
E: elif.obdan@iksv.org