Book: Unleashed: Contemporary Art From Turkey
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

The art world has turned its gaze on Turkey and its vibrant contemporary cultural scene. As Istanbul is crowned this year's European Capital of Culture, Sotheby's is holding a sale of Turkish contemporary art and European collectors are flocking to discover some of the local talent.
'Unleashed: Contemporary Art From Turkey' aims to document this scene. The third in a series of books to explore and map out the current art movements emerging from the Middle East and the Arab world, it features a series of profiles and interviews with over 100 key artists, curators and art supporters within the country.
'Turkey is undergoing almost a cultural explosion,' notes Maryam Eisler, London-based art collector and executive editor of Unleashed. The country's contemporary art scene has been shaped by its volatile geographical location - at the crossroads of east and west. At the heart of this artistic renaissance is Istanbul. Although the capital, Ankara, and other major cities like Izmir and Diyarbakir also have a vibrant art scene - each with their own regional accents - Istanbul is the public face of a country eager to define itself as a liberal Muslim democracy facing Europe.
The vibrant city boasts around 250 mostly privately owned galleries, a huge expansion from just a handful a decade ago. Most of the artists represented by these galleries and captured in Unleashed are responding to Turkey's current social and political tension. There is also a strong dialogue emerging between the local artists and the Turkish diaspora. Berna Tuglular, a contributor to the book, notes that in general the new breed make few references to Turkey's past, be it the Ottoman Empire that ruled over the region for centuries, or indeed its rich visual history and calligraphy.
Instead artists featured, such as Taner Ceylan, are creating highly provocative homoerotic photorealist paintings, while others, like Hale Tenger, deal with issues of immigration. 'There is no censorship in Turkey,' says Eisler bluntly, interesting given the country's current struggles with social liberalism, globalisation, potential entry into the European Union and the rise of Islamic ideology. Not to mention the historical battle it faces with cultural chauvinism and a reluctance to fully listen to regional voices, be they Kurdish or Armenian.
Just recently, one of Ceylan's videos installations was projected at a gallery behind one of Istanbul's main mosques. The only time he was asked to halt the show was during Friday prayer. 'This could not have happened even five years ago,' she notes.
Turkey sits under the watchful eye of its neighbouring Iran, where censorship is supreme. 'We know Iran is there, but almost ignore it,' jokes Tuglular. She says Turkey struggles with similar religious conflicts to Iran, yet so far its regime has been able to ward off extremists from taking cultural control.
'The issues addressed in Turkey's contemporary art movement have a direct link to the concerns of modernisation faced by all non-secular Islamic societies,' says Hossein Amirsadeghi, the brainchild of Unleashed and the two other books 'Different Sames: New Perspectives in Contemporary Iranian Art' and 'New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century'. Amirsadeghi notes that in countries like Turkey, art can often be a powerful catalyst for change, the 'blind hand' that guides society. 'Art', he concludes, 'plays an important role in the transformation of culture.'
'Panther/Stool' by Gülsün Karamustafa, 2007. Image courtesy of the artist and Rodeo
'Pool' by Ramazan Bayrakoglu, 2007. Image courtesy of the artist and Dirimart
'The Absent Presence' by Hussein Chalayan, 2005. Image courtesy of the artist and galerist
'Teaching Photography' by Nazif Topçuoglu, 2003. Image courtesy of the artist and Galeri Nev
'Witchcraft' by Haluk Akakçe, 2005. Image courtesy of the artist and galerist
'Persuasion Room' by Erinç Seymen, 2008. Image courtesy of the artist and galerist
'Nirvana', Taner Ceylan, 2009. Image courtesy of the artist and Galerist
Untitled work from the ‘Familiar Strangers’ series by Ali Taptik, 2007–2008. Image courtesy of the artist and x-ist
'Your Interior Decorator Says: You Will Be Happy When Your Kids Are' by Burhan Kum, 2008. Image courtesy of the artist and x-ist
'Panic' by Irfan Önürmen, 2009. Image courtesy of the artist and Pi Artworks
'Neighbour' by Nuri Kuzucan, 2008. Image courtesy of the artist and x-ist
'St George and Rostam I (part of a pendant)' by Arif Özakça, 2009. Image courtesy of the artist
'Strange Space' from the ‘Mesopotamian Dramaturgies’ series by Kutlug Ataman, 2009. Image courtesy of the artist
-
From darkness to everlasting light: all you need to know about the first Islamic Arts Biennale
Rebecca Anne Proctor travels to Jeddah to explore the world’s first Islamic Arts Biennale (until 23 April), a monumental survey of Islamic arts and culture in the religion’s birthplace, modern-day Saudi Arabia
By Rebecca Anne Proctor • Published
-
A Sydney adventure: discover art and architecture, design and dance
See the best Sydney architecture, design, craft, cuisine and more. Ahead of World Pride 2023, Wallpaper* Australia editor Elias Redstone offers an insider’s view to you plan your trip
By Elias Redstone • Published
-
Last chance to see: Theaster Gates’ ‘Young Lords and Their Traces’ at the New Museum
Theaster Gates talks about his first US museum show, ‘Young Lords and Their Traces’ at The New Museum (until 5 February 2023), a moving homage to the creative forces who came before
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Best contemporary art books: a guide for 2023
From maverick memoirs to topical tomes, turn over a new leaf with the Wallpaper* arts desk’s pick of new releases and all-time favourite art books
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Behind the scenes of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining: new book charts the making of a horror icon
Published in February 2023 by Taschen, a new collector's book will go behind the scenes of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, charting the unseen making of a film that defined the horror genre
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
The best photography books for your coffee table
Flick through, mull over and deep-dive into the best photography books on the market, from our shelves to you this Christmas 2022
By Sophie Gladstone • Published
-
Anne Imhof ‘Avatar II’ review: a psychological thriller to make you wince and wonder
German artist Anne Imhof’s ‘Avatar II’ exhibition at London’s Sprüth Magers is a compelling, uncanny probing of contemporary culture, reality and artifice
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Last updated
-
New photo book chronicles the messy, magical mundanity of new motherhood
Sorry I Gave Birth I Disappeared But Now I’m Back by photographer Andi Galdi Vinko explores new motherhood in all its messy, beautiful reality
By Hannah Silver • Last updated
-
Brad Walls’ aerial view transforms pools into artwork
Aerial photographer Brad Walls provides a crisp conclusion to the summer months with new book Pools From Above – you’ll want to dive right in
By Martha Elliott • Last updated
-
‘Light & Space’ at Copenhagen Contemporary: ‘moving art without moving elements’
On view until 4 September, epic group show ‘Light & Space’ explores the past and present of the iconic light and installation art movement. It’s physical, emotional, bodily and disorientating
By Jeni Porter • Last updated
-
K-style: understanding the rise of Korea’s creative golden age
Spanning music, fashion, design and food, a new book, Make Break Remix explores the global rise and rise of Korean culture
By SuhYoung Yun • Last updated