1st INTERNATIONAL
CONTEMPORARY ART BIENNIAL OF ADANA
November 23,2007
The city name Adana is derived from Uranus’s son's
name Adonis. In Hittite documents this region is called ‘Adaniya’. In the South
on the skirts of the Taurus mountains
this fruitful plain where Adana
is located has Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers
running through it. Throughout history, Adana and the surrounding area have been very prosperous. In 1900 B.C.
Clicia (Luvi kingdom) Arzava, Hurri and
Kizzuvatna kingdoms reigned in the region. After the reign of the mentioned kingdoms,
t he Hittites and Assyrians turned the city into independent kingdoms. And
these periods were followed by Roman Byzantine periods. In the first half of
the 7th century Arab power is felt here.
First the Amevi and then the Abbasi reign started. In the mid 11th century,
some parts of the region were under Selcuk’s control. In 1571, Sultan Selim
captured the region from the Ramazanoglu Emirates making it part of the Ottoman
Empire. Following the independence war during the period of the new Republic,
Adana has started to get immigrants and has become a center of great importance
culturally, economically, and industrially with its great historic past.
It is important to
have contemporary art activity in Adana in the Mediterranean region after the
biennials took place in Ankara Asian-Europe (Avrasya) Sinop biennial (Sinopale)
and Istanbul biennial in 2007, and Antakya
and Izmir biennials. Safa Bute, who is the director of the Biennials, is also
the Project creator of it. Muzaffer Tire and Denizhan Özer are the curators of
the 1st Adana International Contemporary Art Biennial and the contributors Alev
Dikici Print House, 3dda, Digi Line, Hotel Seyhan, Fotoðrafya Dr. Sefa Ulukan
Art Gallery are the art supports who make this artistic activity possible nationally and internationally on December
4-12. Furthermore, participation of
national and international artists will help the endorsement of the region
in art.
A few people’s
efforts and contributive sponsorship
have great importance for our city and national culture. We believe this
cultural activity, called vibrations, will be full of fruitful concepts and provide a good background to the future biennials
by the participations of national
and international artists.
The biennial is
planned to be held every two years and expected to be accepted and widely known
nationally and internationally. Viewers can see the current projects of 133
artists, 58 of whom come from 29 different countries, free of charge. It is
also hoped that many art lovers will enjoy the contemporary art. As a result,
new art centers are to be created in smaller cities along with metropolitan
cities. Furthermore, a new point of view
involving experimental artistic works and the realization of different
cultures will form new concepts.
This biennial has
been the first of its kind in Adana and
has the features of an investment in art
for the active, dynamic youth of the republic in a socio-cultural way. Art lovers
who will meet different contemporary art disciplines will be able to realize how art and life are meaningful and related to each other.
I would like to
wholeheartedly thank our sponsors who support and respect art, the artists, and
the thoughtful people who bring
differences together. Also I would like to thank the supporters of social participation and the
artistic activities of world artists who want to bring their talents and humane
life skills and values internationally
in today’s high-tech world.
Translation: Hülya Köstenceli