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Fig. 2.29
Invisible Istanbul:
Urban Dynamics - Node 5
by
PATTU (Cem Kozar/Isıl
Ünal)
2011
. Augmented
Reality. Brothels: From many
brothels to one brothel to a
park and hotels
Our works at the Venice and Istanbul Biennales went however beyond a reflexive
focus on art world dilemmas to address contemporary issues in the cities in which
the biennials took place. Venice and Istanbul are two of the world's most compelling
cities, overlaid with complex and often conflicting webs of history and memory,
fantasy and desire. The new technology of mobile augmented reality allowed us to
dialogue with these sites in a new manner, transforming specific sites into both the
context and the canvas for our works of art.
I end with a quotation from Bice Curiger's curatorial text for the Venice Biennale:
“ILLUMInations presents contemporary art characterized by gestures that
explore notions of the collective, yet also speak of fragmentary identity, of
temporary alliances, and objects inscribed with transience. If the communicative
aspect is crucial to the ideas underlying ILLUMInations, it is demonstrated in art
that often declares and seeks closeness to the vibrancy of life. This is more important
now than ever before, in an age when our sense of reality is profoundly challenged
by virtual and simulated worlds. This Biennale is also about believing in art and its
potential” (Curiger
2011
).
I could not agree more. Perhaps in ways that Bice Curiger did not anticipate.
