London is set to get its first major contemporary Turkish art exhibition, TA London, which opens at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery with a VIP preview evening on Tuesday 26 October.
The week-long exhibition features 19 internationally acclaimed Turkish artists from Turkey, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and around the world, and 2 international guest artists.
Organised by Renko London, TA London is part of Turkish Art Week, which aims to raise the international profile of Turkish contemporary art and its vast contribution to the global art scene.
For Renko London, the British capital is the perfect location to fulfil their mission of giving Turkish contemporary art “a greater presence” internationally and to “inspire a cross-cultural conversation that will inspire the future evolution of art.”
“London’s artistic history, vibrant multicultural scene and large Turkish community is the perfect location to host this event”, said a press statement from the event organisers.
“The capital is renowned for championing diversity and progressive art, but it’s been more than 17 years since London Turks enjoyed a major cultural event, let alone one representing its cutting edge, contemporary art scene.
“TA London is excited to introduce British audiences to the best of Turkish art and to the possibilities that will arise when international creative minds come together.”
Headlining the event is Turkey’s legendary artist, the “Poet of Painting”, Devrim Erbil. The abstract painter first hit international prominence in the 1960s, his stunning landscapes of Anatolia and Istanbul capturing interest worldwide.
For TA London, the 84-year-old painter has turned his signature “bird’s eye view” on the London skyline, to create an entirely new work of art. Titled ‘London’, the piece will be auctioned by Nifty Gateway after its display at the Saatchi Gallery.
A press release for Renko London said, “Devrim’s work is regarded as the artistic embodiment of Turkey so there is great anticipation to see his interpretation of London.”
The exhibition at Saatchi Gallery will also represent art works of Turkish artists from around the world whose experience and identity remains resolutely Turkish. Some of the preeminent names whose artwork will feature at TA London include Cyprus’s leading Turkish artists Emin Cizenel and Sumer Erek, and Sakit Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s “Master of Colour”.
Two international guest artists from London’s diverse community are also included in the exhibition as part of the project’s mission to ‘inspire a cross-cultural conversation’ around the future of global art. Eva Sonaike’s tapestries are a blend of her Nigerian traditional heritage and contemporary European life, while London artist Joanna Gilbert reflects her links to different urban centres in her abstracts and installations.
Artists taking part in TA London
TA will display the works of 21 artists in total. Of these, 19 are of Turkish heritage: Bahri Genc, Baris Sarıbaş, Basak Cansu Guvenkaya, Cengiz Yatagan, Cigdem Erbil, Devrim Erbil, Ece Clarke, Emin Çizenel, Esra Meral, Mehmet Günyeli, Mine Zabci, Nuri Battal, Renk Erbil, Rina Bakis, Sakit Mammadov, Sina Mirel, Sumer Erek, Yam Karkai, and Yigit Yazici. There are also two international artists: Eva Sonaike, and Joanna Gilbert.
TA London is sponsored by Turkish Airlines and Du Home. More information about the exhibition, which is free to view, and its opening times are below.
Exhibition Details
Title: TA London
Dates: opens Tuesday 26 October (private viewing only), runs to Sunday 31 October 2021
Times: 10am – 6pm daily, last entry 5.30pm.
Venue: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY
Admission: Free (no pre-booking required)
More information: for more information about the exhibition and featured artists, visit the TA London website
Main image, top, are of two art works: a portrait painting of Ataturk by Bahri Genc, and an Istanbul landscape by Devrim Erbil, both on sale via Renko London.
