As the economic behemoth that is Turkey sprints into the future (see W* 176 celebrating the CIVETS countries), reminders of the past remain few and far between. Perili Köşk – otherwise known as the fairy-haunted mansion – is a spectacular exception, teetering on the western bank of the Bosphorus in the heart of Istanbul.
The century-old manor, home to the Borusan Contemporary Art Museum, remained unfinished for decades, until a recent renovation brought it back into the cultural sphere. A new installation by lighting designer Thierry Dreyfus does even better, setting it alight at night and, as the artist says, 'brings the fairies back into view'.
Dreyfus takes the building's most distinctive features - the cantilevered balconies that hug the corners and curve around the nine-storey spire - and illuminates them from below with cosmic video screens embedded in the undersides. As dusk falls and the muezzins begin the evening call to prayer, the screens come alive with recordings of passing clouds, currents of water, or rays of sun peeking through the trees. It's as if the building were broadcasting scenes from its own memory.
The Borusan originally commissioned the installation as part of the 13th Istanbul Biennial. After lighting up briefly in September, it came to life again this week in honour of the 70th anniversary of the Borusan Foundation, rescuer of the building.
As for the best view? Dreyfus says it's from the Bosphorus – from the hundreds of boats that float past each evening. 'When the sun sets, when the images of the films are melting into the sky,' he muses. Passers-by, however, will also get an eyeful for some time to come, as the installation is set to light up the historical building for the next three years.
Perili Köşk, otherwise known as the fairy-haunted mansion, teeters on the western bank of the Bosphorus in the heart of Istanbul and is home to the Borusan Contemporary Art Museum
Dreyfus has taken the building's most distinctive features – the cantilevered balconies that curve around the nine-storey spire – and illuminated them from below with cosmic video screens embedded in the undersides
At dusk the screens come alive with recordings of passing clouds, currents of water, or rays of sun peeking through the trees
INFORMATION
Borusan Contemporary Art Museum
Baltalimanı Hisar Street
Perili Köşk No:5
34470 Sariyer
Istanbul
-
Could reimagining play reshape childhood? 21st Europe argues for playgrounds as infrastructureA new blueprint by think tank 21st Europe and Spacon calls for playgrounds to be treated as vital civic infrastructure – on par with museums, stations and energy grids
-
In Vietnam, Amanoi’s most indulgent residence yet is almost hidden on an East Sea clifftopAman’s ‘place of peace’ in Vietnam introduces the Amanoi Ocean Pool Residence, an architectural feat complete with its own private beach and spa
-
Yinka Ilori just teamed up with M.A.D. Editions on a trio of ultra-colourful watchesBut hurry – you'll need to enter a raffle to score one for yourself
-
Hussein Chalayan’s new Istanbul exhibition: disembodiment meets postcolonialismHussein Chalayan explores identity and the postcolonial body in a new exhibition, ‘Souffleur’, taking place at Istanbul’s Sakıp Sabancı Museum
-
17th Istanbul Biennial review: truth to power and food for thoughtThe 17th Istanbul Biennial sees more than 500 contributors tackle the economic, political, social and ecological issues consuming our planet, from artistic censorship to urbanisation, fractured political systems to shrinking civic spaces
-
Arter is Istanbul’s first home for a permanent collection of contemporary art -
Amid populist turbulence, Istanbul’s art scene is forging defiantly aheadThe city’s cultural cachet is rising, buoyed by the 16th Istanbul Biennial, Contemporary Istanbul art fair and the unveiling of Arter museum
-
Elmgreen & Dragset bring a different perspective to Istanbul’s art scene -
Censor and sensibility: Contemporary Istanbul courts controversy at its 11th edition -
Vibrant voices: exploring the buzz around this year’s IST Festival in Istanbul -
Istanbul gallery Dirimart inaugurates new space designed by Studio MDA
