Art, coup, and sponsors
Art, coup, and sponsors
"Which kind of art is supported by a power that spoils the pleasure of artists by applying torture on them basing on a line of poetry, a novel paragraph or a dissenting drawing? Why are we sponsored by a company that gets the defense tenders of the state?”
Conceptual Art Laboratory organized a “counter activity” to protest the sponsorship of Koç Holding to the 12th Istanbul Biennial.
Speaking to bianet, Niyazi Selçuk from the Conceptual Art Laboratory expressed that they are not "against the Biennial itself but the Biennal’s sponsorship by a company owned by someone who supports coup”.
Selçuk told that visitors of the Biennial were given introduction brochures published by Conceptual Art Laboratory with a page consisting of Koç Holding's founder Vehbi Koc’s letter written on October 3,1980 to Kenan Evren, former general and leader of the 12 September 1980.
The introduction brochures with the "Untitled letter", referring to the12th Istanbul Biennial’s theme “Untitled”, was also given to Koç Holding Board Chairman Mustafa Koç and Bülent Eczacýbaþý but they didn’t read the letter, said Selçuk.
Selçuk noted that participants showed great interest in the "Untitled letter" which is as follows;
"At your disposal”
"Mr. Evren,
The sentences and trials of the detained anarchists and offenders should be prolonged and their sentences should be given immediately. Means should be expanded to equip and strengthen the police; necessary laws in this regard should be enacted as soon as possible.
Laws that regulate the worker-employer relations should be enacted with fewest false steps. The extreme action of some unions, aiming to pull the Turkish state’s economy down, should be taken into consideration.
Some workers have expectations for union relations due to the closure of DISK. Militant unionists have the intention to provoke these workers and to maintain their action by infiltrating to the management of the unions that are still active. This situation should be known and necessary precautions should be taken in the laws to be made.
The Communist Party, leftist organizations, Kurds, Armenians, some politicians no doubt continue their malicious attempts. It should be known what's what and their attempts should definitely be prevented. I wish success to you sublime and your comrades. I am at your disposal.”
Since 2007, the International Istanbul Biennial is sponsored by Koç Holding which will also be the main sponsor for the next 15 years.
Conceptual Art Laboratory asks; “Which kind of art is supported by a power that spoils the pleasure of artists by torturing them because of a line of poetry, a novel paragraph or a dissenting drawing. Why are we sponsored by a company that wins the defense tenders of the state?”
Based on Bertolt Brecht's "Threepenny Opera", the 11th Istanbul Biennial attracted some reaction as to its theme: “What Keeps Mankind Alive?". Conceptual Art Laboratory commented this as “capital’s fondly welcoming Bertolt Brecht with open arms”. Selçuk said; “we think that Koç Holding is the last institution to ask “what keeps mankind alive”.
The works of Conceptual Art Laboratory will be exhibited at the exhibition with the title “At which side is Diyarbakýr Prison” which will be opened today at 6pm.
Conceptual Art Laboratory organized a “counter activity” to protest the sponsorship of Koç Holding to the 12th Istanbul Biennial.
Speaking to bianet, Niyazi Selçuk from the Conceptual Art Laboratory expressed that they are not "against the Biennial itself but the Biennal’s sponsorship by a company owned by someone who supports coup”.
Selçuk told that visitors of the Biennial were given introduction brochures published by Conceptual Art Laboratory with a page consisting of Koç Holding's founder Vehbi Koc’s letter written on October 3,1980 to Kenan Evren, former general and leader of the 12 September 1980.
The introduction brochures with the "Untitled letter", referring to the12th Istanbul Biennial’s theme “Untitled”, was also given to Koç Holding Board Chairman Mustafa Koç and Bülent Eczacýbaþý but they didn’t read the letter, said Selçuk.
Selçuk noted that participants showed great interest in the "Untitled letter" which is as follows;
"At your disposal”
"Mr. Evren,
The sentences and trials of the detained anarchists and offenders should be prolonged and their sentences should be given immediately. Means should be expanded to equip and strengthen the police; necessary laws in this regard should be enacted as soon as possible.
Laws that regulate the worker-employer relations should be enacted with fewest false steps. The extreme action of some unions, aiming to pull the Turkish state’s economy down, should be taken into consideration.
Some workers have expectations for union relations due to the closure of DISK. Militant unionists have the intention to provoke these workers and to maintain their action by infiltrating to the management of the unions that are still active. This situation should be known and necessary precautions should be taken in the laws to be made.
The Communist Party, leftist organizations, Kurds, Armenians, some politicians no doubt continue their malicious attempts. It should be known what's what and their attempts should definitely be prevented. I wish success to you sublime and your comrades. I am at your disposal.”
Since 2007, the International Istanbul Biennial is sponsored by Koç Holding which will also be the main sponsor for the next 15 years.
Conceptual Art Laboratory asks; “Which kind of art is supported by a power that spoils the pleasure of artists by torturing them because of a line of poetry, a novel paragraph or a dissenting drawing. Why are we sponsored by a company that wins the defense tenders of the state?”
Based on Bertolt Brecht's "Threepenny Opera", the 11th Istanbul Biennial attracted some reaction as to its theme: “What Keeps Mankind Alive?". Conceptual Art Laboratory commented this as “capital’s fondly welcoming Bertolt Brecht with open arms”. Selçuk said; “we think that Koç Holding is the last institution to ask “what keeps mankind alive”.
The works of Conceptual Art Laboratory will be exhibited at the exhibition with the title “At which side is Diyarbakýr Prison” which will be opened today at 6pm.
