PRESS RELEASE
September 1, 2017
Download PDF
Taste of Tea
The 15th Istanbul Biennale parallel exhibition and art events
Taste of Tea is an art project elaborated within the International Interdisciplinary Environmental Art Symposium, named Nine Dragon Heads.
Nine Dragon Heads was initiated in South Korea in response to the destruction of an important historical site in 1996. Over twenty years it has evolved into an open interdisciplinary platform where artists from all over the world implement individual and collaborative art projects; related to universal humanitarian, environmental and cultural issues. Working in a framework of thematic and multimedia formats Nine Dragon Heads unites artists from all five continents.
In Istanbul Taste of Tea reiterates the nomadic and showcasing practice of Nine Dragon Heads that are open air research-workshops, exhibition, conference and performance program.
The main exhibition space of Taste of Tea is two passenger trains standing at platform at the famous Istanbul Haydarpasa Terminal, in Kadikoy. Another railway station falls into the Nine Dragon Heads route of research and activity -Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal, the eastern terminus of the Orient Express, the world famous long-distance passenger train from Paris to Istanbul, connecting Europe with Asia.
By means of installation, video, sculpture, photography, and performance Taste of Tea examines the ability of art to convey the relations of a person and nature, a person and a society, a person and culture. The project synthesizes and facilitates joint and individual artworks, while threads of overlapping artistic inquiry are produced in a process of evolving collaborative association. Participating artists look for the creation of a space where open air environmental research and art practice results in an ethical artistic message.
The idea of Taste of Tea can be understood as a situation, a momentum, an inspiration, and finally, as a great opportunity to bridge cultures. The project does not address the topic of tea or tea culture only in a narrow sense of its consumption or direct citing the prevailing historical narratives associated with tea. It aims at the broader interpretation of taste and tea as phenomena and as a philosophic notion. It is a tool for creative reflection and thoughtful navigation amongst the immense historical, cultural, geographic, economic and social features enclosed in the philosophy of tea.
Taste of Tea, a parallel exhibition of the 15th Istanbul Biennale will be inaugurated with an opening ceremony on Thursday, September 14th at 17:00-21:00 at Haydarpasa Terminal, in Kadikoy.
The project will be presented at a press conference on Thursday, September 14th at 15:00, at Haydarpasa Terminal.
The opening days of Taste of Tea will be accompanied by a performance program at Istanbul’s Sirkeci Terminal on Friday, September 15th at 12:00.
The opening week of Taste of Tea will be completed by a one-day conference on Saturday, September 16th at 10:30 -12:30 in Piramid Sanat (Şehit Muhtar Mah. Feridiye Cad. No:23/25, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey).
The majority of organizational functions within Taste of Tea are implemented directly by Nine Dragon Heads with directorial overview and coordination provided by the project’s artistic director and founder of Nine Dragon Heads Park, Byoung Uk.
Taste of Tea is co-curated by Magda Guruli, independent curator from Tbilisi, Georgia and Istanbul based Denizhan Özer. Özer is founder of KORIDOOR Contemporary Art Programs, an Istanbul based non-profit cultural organization and organizational collaborator with Nine Dragon Heads to realize the Taste of Tea project.
Taste of Tea Artists:
Ali Bramwell (NZ), Alois Schild (AT), Antti Tenetz (NL), Asli Ozok (TR), Bedri Baykam (TR), Christophe Doucet (FR), Daniela de Maddalena (CH), Denizhan Özer (TR), Enrique Muñoz García (RCH/CH), Eun Su Lim (KR) Gabriel Edward Adams (USA/NZ), Gordana Andjelic Galic (B&H), Harold de Bree (NL), Iliko Zautashvili (GE), IMPLUSE (KR), Jessy Theo Rahman (NL), Kazunori Kitazawa (JP), Kelly Sharp (AU), Kim Jae Nam (KR), Kim Jai Kwan (KR), Lee Lee Nam (KR), Light House (KR), Pang Hyo Sung (KR), Serdal Kesgin (TR), Seren Ceren Asyali (TR), Shin Yong Gu (KR), Sim Jea Bun (KR), Suh Yoon Hee (KR), Susanne Muller (CH),Yoo Joung Hye (KR).
Exhibition dates: September 14th – October 4th, 2017;
Inauguration: September 14th, 5 pm – 9 pm, Haydarpasa Terminal, Kadikoy
Press conference: September 14th, 3 pm, Haydarpasa Terminal, Kadikoy;
Performance program:
September 14th, 5 pm Haydarpasa Terminal, Kadikoy;
September 15th, 12 pm, Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal;
Conference: September 16th, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, Piramid Art Center, Istanbul;
Nomadic Party:
September 12th, 7 pm, Piramid Art Center, Istanbul;
September 13th, 7 pm, private party for Nine Dragon Heads artists, organizers, and guests;
Opening hours at Haydarpasa Terminal, Kadikoy: 11 am – 6 pm, except Monday;
Website: http://9dh-istanbul.com/
For press information and images please contact:
Magda Guruli: magda.guruli8@gmail.com
Denizhan Özer: thedenizhan@yahoo.com
Ali Bramwell: ali.bramwell@gmail.com
Gabriel Adams: gabrieledwardadams@gmail.com
Contact Phones:
Denizhan Özer (+90) 533 572 2088
Gabriel Adams (+90) 544 432 8645