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Feature Article
Turkish contemporary art in Washington DC
 Photography, video, paintings, textiles and installations by 11 Turkish artists who create work in response to outlined gender roles will be on display at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. The museum is the only one in the world dedicated exclusively to female artists.
The world’s only museum dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contributions of female artists will host a Turkish exhibition from Feb. 12 to May 16.
The exhibition “Dream... But Not Yours: Contemporary Art From Turkey” at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, or NMWA, in Washington, D.C., will display works by 11 leading Turkish artists who pose the elemental question: “Why do so many women seek to conform and adhere to standards set by others, and continue to be judged by their roles as spouses, mothers and keepers of the house?”
Sponsored by Akbank, the Foreign Economic Relations Board, or DEİK, and the Turkish American Business Council, or TAİK, the exhibition will include works by Nevin Aladağ, Selda Asal, Merve Brill, İpek Duben, İnci Eviner, Leyla Gediz, Gülsün Karamustafa, Ceren Oykut, Canan Şenol, Ayça Telgeren and Canan Tolon.
“The starting point was the fact that the NMWA is a museum exclusive to the artworks of women,” said show curator Esra Sarıgedik Öktem. “The possibility of a contemporary art exhibition being limited to any nationality or any gender seems as likely as the existence of a museum devoted exclusively to the works of women artists in the middle of Washington, D.C.”
“Nevertheless, the museum exists and the concept of the exhibition branched from this idea,” she added. “Building upon the sociopolitical conditions and the media added to these realities, the title of the exhibition emerged: The roles imposed upon one’s self and the probability of these roles coinciding with one’s own dreams and ideals.”
‘Skeleton of modern society’
Speaking about his company’s longtime support for contemporary art, Akbank General Manager Ziya Akkurt said that creative minds and change will be the skeleton of modern society.
“Turkish society is in favor of embracing constant change and art is the proof of this embrace. In this respect, we are delighted to give our support to this exhibition with the works of 11 leading women artists,” Akkurt said. “Aiming to bring an authenticity, dynamism and diversity to the arena of contemporary art of Turkey, this exhibition will give an opportunity to share the works of our artists with the rest of the world.”
According to DEİK/TAİK Chairman Haluk Dinçer, relations between countries would be enriched not only through interaction at the governmental and private-sector levels, but also through cooperating with academic and arts communities. This is why DEİK/TAİK has long been undertaking such international activities on arts and culture, he said.
‘One foot in the East, the other in the West’
In a statement about the exhibition, the NMWA said that Turkey had long been considered a nation with one foot in the East and the other in the West, a country whose art and design production has permeated and influenced European nations over the past four centuries.
“In the 21st century, Turkey’s contemporary artists ensconce themselves mentally in global art production, notwithstanding the physical location of their studios,” the statement said. “The museum is pleased to present some of the leading women artists who claim Turkey as their homeland, but whose video art, photography and painting declare their identity.”
For more information, please visit National Museum of Women in the Arts website.
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