La Caixa

Contemporary Turkish art is claiming its place in the history of 20th century European culture. Its most recent artistic tradition is little known outside the borders, and thanks to the patronage of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, is now being presented, for the first time in Spain, at CaixaForum Madrid.

Contemporary masterpieces of Turkey in the collection of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey shows the work of 17 artists who, in touch with the European and American artistic movements of the second half of the 20th century, incorporate new ideas into their painting without sacrificing their aesthetic beliefs and values, creating an original and subjective work. The exhibition, organised in association with the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, shows us how these Turkish artists have adopted Western abstract movements, either with Expressionist approaches, figurative abstractions or fantastic conceptual interpretations. However, the graphic strength and the power of the colour in these works refer us to the rich cultural legacy bequeathed by the Ottoman Empire.

The show Contemporary masterpieces of Turkey in the collection of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey includes works that span the years from the 1950s to the present day by the following artists: Zeki Faik Izer, Nejad Devrim, Selim Turan, Mübin Orhon, Adnan Çoker, Ömer Uluç, Erol Akyavaş, Devrim Erbil, Burhan Uygur, Osman Dinç, Kemal Önsoy, Mithat Şen, Mustafa Ata, Alaettin Aksoy, Serdar Arat, Komet (Gürkan Coşkun) and Mehmet Güleryüz (1938).

The exhibition Contemporary masterpieces of Turkey in the collection of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, curated by Kıymet Giray, head of the History of Art Department of the University of Ankara, can be seen at CaixaForum Madrid from 7 April to 30 May 2010.

More information in the PDF press release