Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi Art 2025 and Art On Istanbul are bringing the artworks of modern Turkish masters to Abu Dhabi’s Manarat Al Saadiyat from November 19 to 23.
In an interview with Aletihad, Art On Istanbul Director Ece Köksal said artists like Burhan Doğançay “have shaped a distinct place for Türkiye within the global story of modernism”.
His celebrated wall series “transforms the everyday cityscape into a universal language of memory, resilience and change.”
She explained: “By bringing overlooked fragments of urban life into the canon of modern art, Doğançay demonstrates how Türkiye’s masters not only respond to their local environment but also contribute to a global dialogue on transformation and identity.”
That dialogue often evokes overlooked narratives - “stories of transition and adaptation, narratives that emerge from a society balancing tradition and modernity”.
“Doğançay elevates the ephemeral traces of city walls – posters, graffiti, peeling paint – into enduring works of art. In doing so, he brings visibility to the transient and the marginalised, offering fresh perspectives that challenge dominant narratives in modern art history.”
Türkiye’s cultural position “at the crossroads of civilisations” infuses the work with layered time.
“This layered quality, where past and present, East and West intersect, is at the heart of Doğançay’s practice,” Köksal added. The walls become a palimpsest.
“His works echo the palimpsest of Turkish cities, where cultural memory is inscribed on urban walls, creating a visual metaphor that resonates far beyond national borders.”
Galleries, Köksal reckons, are stewards as well as stages.
“Turkish galleries are central to safeguarding and reintroducing the legacies of modern masters to contemporary audiences.”
She added: “At Art On Istanbul, our mission is not only to exhibit but also to research and contextualise these works with international relevance. By doing so, we ensure that Türkiye’s artistic heritage is woven into the broader cultural fabric, while opening pathways for new connections with leading institutions worldwide.”
Abu Dhabi, with the Louvre Abu Dhabi and forthcoming Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum, offers a fertile setting for arts and culture.
“Abu Dhabi has rapidly become a vital centre for cultural exchange, with world-class institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and forthcoming projects like the Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum creating an ecosystem of immense importance.
“Presenting Doğançay’s rarely seen works here offers a rare opportunity to engage with this rising cultural landscape. It enriches the regional dialogue by connecting Türkiye’s modern narratives with the UAE’s dynamic art scene, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a meeting point between regional voices and global perspectives.”
