Mardin, 2014 Photograph: Mehmet Çimen
An event participated in by International Mardin Biennial team was held at Salt Galata on Februay 10th, under the title “Mardin Biennial Speaks”. The event was important as it was a panel where the team of the Mardin Biennial which was subject of debating in the art community, as it was postponed under the tense political atmosphere of the region, were speakers coming together for the first time. The biennial, the third one of which was scheduled this year under the theme “Mythologies”, was seeking to focus on the world of mythology and art it was nurtured by over centuries, despite the recent cultural destruction of the region.
In the first session of the event where biennial collective members were speakers, Ferhat Özgür shared his views on the history of the biennial. Fırat Arapoğlu and Mardin Cinema Association founder Hakan Irmak, citing the postponed art events in the world and reasons for postponement, touched upon what happened at Mardin Biennial.
Fine artist Şener Özmen, who spoke in the third session under the title “Questions and Topics”, stating that he was envious that the biennial was held in Mardin, also related that he wanted Diyarbakır where he lived and worked in, to be a biennial city. Özmen stressed that especially recently, western art was carried to the east and eastern art to the west. The questions of the audience were answered in the last session of the event which had large attendance.
