The Pavilion of Turkey, which, for the first time, will participate in the 14th International Architecture Exhibition that will run from 7 June through to 23 November 2014, has Murat Tabanlıoğlu appointed as curator and Pelin Derviş as project coordinator. Coordinated by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, the Pavilion of Turkey will be located at Arsenale, one of the main venues of the Venice Biennale, for 20 years from 2014 to 2034, thanks to the contributions of 21 supporters that allowed the allotment.
An alumnus of the Vienna Technical University Architecture Department, Murat Tabanlıoğlu had already gained valuable experience through his works with distinguished architects in Vienna when he returned to Turkey in 1990 to found the Tabanlıoğlu Architecture with his father Dr. Hayati Tabanlıoğlu. He designed the Doğan Media Center, a home also to the Milliyet Newspaper. Mr. Tabanlıoğlu teaches architectural studio at various universities, including Bilgi University, and gives lectures both home and abroad. As a jury member, in addition to his international contributions, such as at AIA and WAF, Mr. Tabanlıoğlu served on the Master Jury for the 2013 Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Pelin Derviş graduated from the Istanbul Technical University in architecture and completed her master's degree in history of architecture at the same university. After working in her architectural practice on projects of various types and dimensions ranging from urban inventory projects to spatial and object design for 14 years she focused on the cultural production aspect of architecture. Working as an independent editor and curator in Istanbul, architect Pelin Derviş' special fields of interest include the documentation of modern architectural production and the contemporary urban issues of Istanbul.
IKSV has formed a Scientific Committee to provide curator Murat Tabanlıoğlu and project coordinator Pelin Derviş with the necessary academic support and counselling in their project for the biennial. The Scientific Committee comprises academicians who work on architecture and history of architecture, including Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture lecturer Prof. Dr. Arzu Erdem, Istanbul Şehir University Sociology Department lecturer and Director of the Center for Urban Studies Prof. Dr. Murat Güvenç, Aga Khan Award for Architecture former General Secretary and President of the World Architecture Community Prof. Dr. Suha Özkan, and Mardin Artuklu University Dean of Faculty of Architecture Prof. Dr. Uğur Tanyeli.
The 14th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, will be curated by Rem Koolhaas, on 7 June - 23 November 2014. The biennale, entitled "Fundamentals", will feature a number of country pavilions in Giardini and Arsenale, besides the main exhibition. The details regarding the Pavilion of Turkey will be announced in the first months of 2014.
Turkey in the Venice Biennale for the next 20 years
On the initiation of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and with the gracious support of 21 persons and institutions, Turkey is obtaining a long-term venue in the Venice Biennale, one of the world's leading contemporary art and architecture events. The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts will be coordinating the Pavilion of Turkey that will take part in the Venice Biennale's both International Art Exhibition and Architecture Exhibition, and the commissioner will be IKSV's International Projects Coordinator Tuna Ortaylı.
The supporting persons and institutions that have contributed in providing Turkey with a permanent venue in Venice include Akbank, Mehveş-Dalınç Arıburnu, Nezih Barut, Ali Raif Dinçkök, Vuslat Doğan Sabancı, Füsun-Faruk Eczacıbaşı, Oya-Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Enka Foundation, Nesrin Esirtgen, Eti Gıda San. ve Tic. AŞ, Kadir Has University, Öner Kocabeyoğlu, MAÇAKIZI, Tansa Mermerci Ekşioğlu, Polimeks İnşaat, SAHA Association, Taha Tatlıcı, T. Garanti Bankası AŞ, Vehbi Koç Foundation, Zafer Yıldırım, and Yıldız Holding AŞ.
