Title: Surface and Beyond

Posted In: Exhibition

Duration: 26 May 2016 to 30 July 2016

Venue: Dirimart Dolapdere

Location: Irmak Cad. 1-9 34440, İstanbul Turkey

Telephone: +90 212 232 66 66

Boosted by the growing Turkish economy, Istanbul ’s contemporary art scene has demonstrated a remarkable rise over the last decade, with new galleries, museums and art spaces constantly springing up along with the Istanbul Modern Art Museum and the annual Contemporary Istanbul (CI) art fair contributing to the city gained a leading role in the global art market. In response to this economic boom, Dirimart , one of the leading galleries in Turkish art, recently opened a second gallery in Istanbul’s Dolapdere area, next to the Koc Foundation’s Contemporary Art Collection ’s new museum (expected to open by the end of 2017).

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Tomás Saraceno,  Connectome , 2013. Rope, threads, mirrors. 165 x 120 x 105 cm. Edition of 3 plus 1 artist proof #3/3. Photo © Andrea Rossetti.

Photo courtesy Markus Dochantschi / studioMDA. Designed by architect Markus Dochantschi , founder of Studio MDA , New York, the new museum-like art space spreads over 1,000 square meters and is the largest commercial art space in Istanbul. Hazer Özil , Dirimart 's founder, explains why he chose to open a new gallery in Dolapdere: “ We have been preparing this project for quite some time and looking for the right place to execute our vision for this new location -a very important factor. The gallery faces the main street in Dolapdere, a fast-emerging artistic area in İstanbul, located in a strategic, important spot in-between two art hubs in the city: Nişantaşı (where the first gallery space is still located and active) and the Pera-Beyoğlu axis where a great number of art galleries and museums are located ”. 

Courtesy of Dirimart Dolapdere and Tomás Saraceno.

Photography by Studio Tomás Saraceno © 2014.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere. Dirimart is inaugurating the new space with the group exhibition “ Surface and Beyond ,” curated by Heinz Peter Schwerfel . The exhibition, on view through July 30, presents well-known international and Turkish contemporary artists including the likes of Sarah Morris , Tomas Saraceno , Haluk Akakçe , Franz Ackermann and more, sees the showcased artworks, paintings, sculptures and films inviting the viewer on a visual journey beyond the surface to reveal political and social references.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Sarah Morris, February 2016 . Courtesy of Dirimart Gallery and the artist.

Sarah Morris,  Maqta [Abu Dhabi] , 2015. Household gloss on canvas 214 x 214 cm. Courtesy of Dirimart Gallery and the artist.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere. With its white color and light, sliding walls and large glass windows that connect the gallery’s interior with an outdoor sculpture garden, it is immediately obvious that a sense of openness was crucial in the gallery’s execution. “ Our aim was to create a place where the artwork can be presented in a spacious environment, where it can breathe and be shown on its own terms. The new gallery space is designed in such a way that it allows exhibitions to be held on flexible grounds -which gives great freedom to the artworks and the curator. We will also be hosting different art events, such as artist’s talks and book launches alongside our exhibitions, which will continue at both of our spaces ” says Hazer Özil . 

Courtesy of Dirimart Dolapdere and Bernard Frize.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Courtesy of Dirimart Dolapdere and Bernard Frize.

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere. According to architect Markus Dochantschi , Dirimart Dolapdere was “ conceived as a ‘catalogue of spaces’; the space can be subdivided and converted into different sizes for screenings and other events ”. Combined with the fact that transparency also plays a very important role as “ the space provides high visibility for which accessibility and openness is crucial

Exhibition view. Courtesy Dirimart Dolapdere.

Isaac Julien, Echo , 2015, Courtesy of Dirimart Gallery and the artist.

Isaac Julien, Stones Against Diamonds , 2015, Courtesy of Dirimart Gallery and the artist.

Eva Rothschild, The Xs and the Ys , 2014. Resin, wool, steel frame 184 x 128 x 3 cm. Courtesy of Dirimart Gallery and the artist.