Last Tuesday, we met <a fr-original-style="" href="https://instagram.com/bengu?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=&utm_source=aposto" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Bengü</a> (Gün) in Beşiktaş, one of her favourite places in Istanbul. We talked about the neighbourhood, being an Istanbulite and art spaces. We searched for an answer to the question "How can people who live here nourish themselves?" Are you curious about what we found? Then, come close and take a seat. Let us get you a Turkish coffee so we can start our conversation.<h2 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">ID</h2><ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Your nickname: Coruja - my nick name from back when I played capoeira.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Last exhibition I visited in Istanbul:&nbsp;Salt Beyoğlu, The 90s Onstage, an exhibition that sheds light on the place of performance art in Turkey's past.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Last artist I discovered in Istanbul:&nbsp;Adelita Husni-Bey in the Also your wound, Rosa&nbsp;exhibition curated by Pelin Uran.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The place in Istanbul where you can get your fill of art without going to a museum or gallery: Urban in Beyoğlu, best place to meet friends from the art world.&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Non-Istanbulites wouldn't know: How endless a city can be.</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I live in: Beşiktaş, still my favourite.</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">In my heart, I feel like I am from: Brazil.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 fr-original-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">SHOOT THE BREEZE</h2>You were born in Mersin, you came to Istanbul for university. You lived in Dubai for a while and then you came back to Istanbul, and you're still here. How did Istanbul's place in your heart change over the years? What are the factors that make this place 'home'?When I first arrived in Istanbul from Mersin, I was mesmerised by the city. The way the Bosphorus shaped the whole city, its never-ending energy, and its size, which was difficult to grasp at first, felt very good to me. I guess the city was not so crowded at that time, or I didn't realise it when I was a student. Of course, living on the campus of Boğaziçi University was very lucky, we were in the most beautiful corner of the most beautiful city in the world.&nbsp;As a result of work and the general rush of life, the relationship with the city changes. It is both my home, where I feel very comfortable, and an area of constant struggle. Nevertheless, Istanbul has not lost anything from its beauty for me. With a ferry journey, I can recapture the feeling I experienced on my first day here. There is still so much to discover.<img lazy="loading" src="https://images.aposto.com/1200xauto/2022/8/4/1663866385678.jpeg" style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" width="550" ratio="0.67" fr-original-style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Bengü is in her neighbourhood, Beşiktaş<hr fr-original-style="" style="height: 0px; overflow: visible; border-bottom: none; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; box-sizing: border-box;">You are the co-founder of Mixer, a gallery that creates a space for young artists to introduce and express themselves. At the same time, you have experience in managing a 'guest house' that provides artists with the opportunity to create. What does the presence of these institutions in Istanbul, which have different dynamics but serve the same purpose, add to the city? What is the impact of the city on these institutions?&nbsp;I have always nourished myself through such institutions. Although each institution you mentioned is quite different, they have a common goal; to create space for artistic creation and for the creation to meet audiences. In a multi-layered city like Istanbul, such initiatives carry special importance. It is not a one-sided relationship. The existence of these institutions cannot be considered separately from the audience living here. Institutions that nourish the audience, arouse curiosity and create a space for questioning and discussion, also strengthen and nourish the life here.As a person who has been involved in the arts for years, how do you intellectually nourish&nbsp;yourself in Istanbul apart from visiting exhibitions and museums?&nbsp;We are lucky that there is a very vibrant art scene in Istanbul, and this period now is even more active with the biennial. I participate in talks and events as much as I can. I especially enjoy spending time in Salt Galata's library. The best thing that nourishes me in Istanbul traffic these days is breaks with audiobooks.Do you find anything missing from the art scene in Istanbul, a place/platform that you think should exist in the city? If so, why do you think we need such a space? I think most cultural institutions are still very closed off, and they target similar audiences. We need more spaces that bring people together for participatory works, that are more inclusive and inviting. This was also the reason why ICOM changed the definition of museums recently. We all need to figure out how to really realize the following statement in this new definition: “Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability.”

Two nights ago, Salon İKSV opened its doors and said: #SalonAçık. Babylon is back in town too, it’s ready to #TurnsYouOn. The 21th Filmekimi is around the corner. Yesterday, while I was a bit chilly and needed a coat on the balcony, I opened my planner to face the facts. It’s officially autumn.&nbsp;For some, it’s time to go inside, and for others, it's time to enjoy these last couple of weeks of Indian summer. For me, it's time to enjoy fall and fall in love with Istanbul, again. Seeing a rainbow feels like a reward here this time of the year. It reminds me of the colours of the city, after seeing blue and yellow for a long time. Big tables full of loved ones who are back in the city say you’ll never be alone.This week, we’ve met Bengü Gün, curator and co-founder of the Mixer gallery. It’s art month, so you know what we discussed. Then we’ve followed Kenan (Cruz Çilli). As the 17th Istanbul Biennial continues to attract visitors from far and wide, he has prepared a short list of sites that you can visit alongside key Biennial exhibitions. Later on, maybe we’ll meet at Suma Han to embrace new dance moves and create rainbows on the dance floor.To rainbows,Elif

<h1 dir="ltr" fr-original-style="" style="font-size: 2em; margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">Exhibition:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://saltonline.org/en/home?utm_source=aposto" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">The 90s Onstage</a></h1><img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/images.aposto.com/2022/8/5/1663947778579.gif" style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" ratio="Infinity" width="550" fr-original-style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><a fr-original-style="" href="https://saltonline.org/en/home?utm_source=aposto" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Salt</a>’s recent exhibition The 90s Onstage, explores Turkey’s artistic and cultural environment in the 90s based on performance and presents a selection of solo and collaborative artworks from the period.&nbsp;Examining the practice of performance in relation to society, economy, the street and politics, The 90s Onstage presents a potpourri of cultural history while addressing the collective initiatives of artists and designers.You may visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://saltonline.org/en/home?utm_source=aposto" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">this link</a> for further information on the exhibition, and you may visit Salt Beyoğlu and Salt Galata between 15 September 2022 and 12 February 2023 to view the exhibition.

25 Eylül - Salt - İstanbul İng

A weekly, practical guide to Istanbul for those who want to make this city their neighborhood. Every Sunday. 

A weekly, practical guide to Istanbul for those who want to make this city their neighborhood.

Aposto Istanbul

Let's enjoy Istanbul in these last mild air days. Follow us for concerts, outdoor events, film screenings, a little tour around the 17th Istanbul Biennial venues, and more. 

🌬️ Last call for the outdoors

Kültür hakkında yayımlanan makaleler ve yayınlar

Kültür

Yemek ve içecek hakkında yazılar ve yayınlar

Yemek & İçecek

Sanat hakkında yayımlanan makaleler ve yayınlar

Sanat

Meet Bengü Gün, traveller from Mersin who made Beşiktaş her home, an art consultant with a fondness for creativity and production. And of course, an Istanbulite.