Organized by Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) and supported by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Kültür A.Ş., “Turkish World Women Artists Istanbul Exhibition” was opened in International Women’s Day on 8 March 2019 in Taksim Art Gallery with the participation of 16 women artists from 9 different countries.
The opening of the exhibition was held in Taksim Art Gallery. The ceremony was attended by TDBB Secretary General Fahri Solak, IBB Kültür A.Ş. Museum Director Salih Doğan, guests and women artists who have artworks in the exhibition. The artists are Naila Ahmadova and Tarana Aghayeva from Azerbaijan, Aigul Ishberdina from Bashkortostan, Aktoty Smagulova and Botagoz Tolesh from Kazakhstan, Anara Iskakova, Gulchakhra Toktosunova, Kaiyragul Kazybekova and Kimiia Torogeldieva from Kyrgyzstan, Semra Bayhanlı from TRNC, Maria Safi and Tatyana Fadeyeva from Uzbekistan, Nargizadzhon Akhrorova from Tajikistan, Alsu Iusupova from Tatarstan and Ayfer Tutkan and Tacigül Küntüz from Turkey.
TDBB Secretary General Fahri Solak stated that the opening of the exhibition was held especially on International Women’s Day due to the importance of the day and added that “The main purpose of TDBB is basically to boost cooperation between the local governments but also organizing various activities in order to maintain Turkish World’s culture, history and art by such organizations”.
Solak expressed that 16 women artists came together in Istanbul from 9 different countries for the exhibition and posited that “We previously hosted women experts from municipalities and local governors in Istanbul on 8 March International Women’s Day. This year, different from the previous years, we brought together women artists in Istanbul”.
Solak also thanked to IBB Kültür A.Ş. for the hosting of the exhibition gallery and also artists who participated with their pieces of art and expressed that “I hope the artists who came from different countries and met with the other artists here have a nice time here. Istanbul with its long lasting history -8500 years considered as an open museum therefore they will have an opportunity to meet with Istanbul’s cultural heritage and they will benefit from it”.
IBB Kültür A.Ş. Museum Director Salih Doğan expressed his pleasure for supporting such a project. Doğan also posited that art is one of the important tools to transmit Turkish World’s cultural heritage to new generations and he added that “This exhibition has a very important mission. All the traces and images of these artworks here represent our history and our common culture”. Doğan also highlighted the importance of this meeting from Turkish World’s women held in Istanbul and he thanked everyone who contributed to the exhibition.
Curator of the exhibition Kaiyrgul Kazybekova emphasized that women are important for the humanity and said that “In our culture, woman means core and owner of the house. These women are so strong that they are able to go for a battle and also make an artwork. We, with these women, try to make our art while showing our culture.” Kazybekova also posited that women are the symbols of the labor and even women who are not employed can make very nice arts. Kazybekova also highlighted that the artists who participated to the exhibition belong culture and art and share them with others.
After the opening speeches, invitees examined the artworks in the exhibition and got informed about the pieces of art.
The exhibition will be opened until 15 March 2019, Friday evening in Taksim Square Art Gallery in Taksim Metro Entrance.
