Following the opening of the 3rd International Yeditepe Biennial, a gala dinner was organised at Yedikule Fortress, which brought together Mr. Muhammed Emin Demirkan, President of the Classical Turkish Arts Foundation, artists, curators and representatives of the cultural world with the presence of Mr. M. Ergün Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality. The theme of the biennial, ‘Where There is Shadow, There must be Light’, was discussed in philosophical and artistic aspects.

The 3rd International Yeditepe Biennial, organised under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and in cooperation with Fatih Municipality and the Classical Turkish Arts Foundation, opened its doors to art lovers on 18 April. Following the inauguration of the Biennial, a gala dinner was organised at Yedikule Fortress, bringing together artists, curators, representatives of the cultural world and stakeholders.

This year's biennial, organised under the theme ‘Where There is Shadow, There must be Light’, reinterprets the deep accumulation of classical Turkish arts within a philosophical and aesthetic framework, inviting art lovers to a rich intellectual environment through both traditional and contemporary approaches.

Mr. M. Ergün Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality attended the event and Mr. Muhammed Emin Demirkan, Chairman of the Board of the Classical Turkish Arts Foundation, addressed the participants. The programme started with the introductory film of the biennial. Then curators Mr. Fatih Ömeroğlu and Mr. Furkan Türkyılmaz took the floor and commented on the background of the theme and the preparation process of the exhibition. It was emphasised in the speeches that the relationship between shadow and light is not only a visual aesthetic, but also symbolises the inner journey, existence and the search for truth.

Stating in his speech that the Yeditepe Biennial contributes to the accessibility of art and the strengthening of cultural memory, the Mayor, Mr. Turan said:

‘Yeditepe Biennial is a platform that not only exhibits the artworks, but also involves the audience in the art and makes them think. This year, works with depth accompanied by shadow and light meet the audience in the historical texture of Suriçi. I hope that it will once again be beneficial to Istanbul, our cultural world and Islamic geography’.

Speeches were also made on behalf of the main sponsors of the biennial, Turkish Airlines and Turkcell. Mr. Melih Ecertaş, Member of the Board of Directors of THY, and Mr. Kamil Kalyon, Chief Finance Officer at Turkcell, drew attention to the role of art in keeping social memory alive, deepening cultural identity and establishing a universal language.

In the programme, flowers were also presented to the curators and art team who contributed to the biennial. The flowers given to Mr. Kemal Beykoz on behalf of Mr. Fatih Ömeroğlu, Mr. Furkan Türkyılmaz and the art team were a way of thanking the collective labour of art production. The night ended with a family photo and closing speeches.

Yeditepe Biennial, the first of its kind in the field of classical Turkish arts in the world, brings together 215 works by 263 artists in three different historical venues of Istanbul this year. There are 163 works on display in the Yedikule Fortress, 27 at the Sirkeci Station Warehouses and 17 in the Nuruosmaniye Mosque Cellar. Artists from 30 different countries are participating in the biennial.

Curators Mr. Fatih Ömeroğlu and Mr. Furkan Türkyılmaz aim to make visible the profound dialogue between shadow and light through art in these three different venues. The main theme of the biennial, ‘Where There is Shadow, There must be Light’, questions not only a formal opposition but also the inner tensions of art, life and the human soul in a philosophical context.

In addition to traditional arts such as miniature, paper marbling, Islamic calligraphy, tile and illumination, the artists also work on this theme with contemporary interpretations. While the shadow stands out as a symbol of the unknown and inner silence, light is redefined as a field of intuition and insight into the truth.

The 3rd International Yeditepe Biennial stands out not only as an event where artworks are exhibited, but also as a holistic cultural platform that takes the audience on an intellectual journey thanks to interviews, workshops and guided tours.

Between 18 April-18 June, the exhibitions, which are open to visitors free of charge between 11.00-19.00 every day, can be visited by registering on the official website of the biennial or at the registration points in the venues.

Spread across three historical venues in the heart of Istanbul, this great art event continues to make visible the silent and profound dialogue between shadow and light.