January – February 2025
“… ve Markiz’de Dehşetli Güzel” Issue is Now Available!
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Spiritual Refuge
The rising cost of living, the deepening economic crisis, the gradual decline in trust in justice, the deterioration of the social fabric, and the pressures on the media… We have left another year behind under the shadow of all this. So, where is this ship heading? While the recent spate of disasters and crises has further deepened the uncertainties within society, the trajectory of the arts and culture world in this chaotic environment is a matter of great curiosity.
To understand this uncertainty, we listened to pioneers in their fields, such as Hüsamettin Koçan, Şebnem İşigüzel, Gündüz Vassaf, Özcan Yaman, Uras Kızıl, and Gökçer Tahincioğlu. Their assessments emphasized that art is not only a tool for individual creativity but also a powerful bond that brings society together. They emphasized that art should pave the way for collective action to alleviate the burdens brought on by crises and strengthen social solidarity. If you are curious about this hopeful perspective, take a look at our feature article.
Speaking of the dossier, to lift our spirits and warm our hearts, we've also prepared a special issue where we explore the inspiring love stories of art, free from the trappings of consumerism. We focused on couples whose artistic productions were nourished by their relationships and reflected these dialogues in their creativity. Our list includes names like Gilbert & George, Ted Hughes & Sylvia Plath, Rondinone & John Giorno. If you'd like to explore the depth these special relationships bring to art, this dossier is for you.
This issue also features pages commemorating Arhan Kayar, whom we recently lost. From the early 1990s onward, Kayar dedicated significant contributions to Turkey's creative industries. Until his unexpected passing, he encouraged creativity in every sense, developing collaborative projects with individuals in diverse fields. These pages, where we speak with a wide range of figures, from Hüseyin Çağlayan to Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar, from Aldo Cibic to Refik Anadol, and focus on his work, serve as a farewell.
Over the past few months, some activity has been stirring curiosity at Markiz, one of Istanbul's most important cultural landmarks, which has been closed for a long time. We've learned that Markiz will host the "Terrifying Beauty" project by the artist duo :mentalKLINIK in March, in collaboration with PİLEVNELİ. On this occasion, let's heed these lines Haldun Taner wrote about Markiz in 1983: "...Here, every table was like a small island. You could find your own quiet space amidst the crowd. You could escape tiring conversations and meaningless arguments and find peace for an hour. The occasional appearance and disappearance of Avedis Efendi in his apron was a detail that completed the serenity of the space. Markiz was one of the places I missed most when I left Istanbul. People need such spiritual refuges. In difficult times, I would go there and find myself."
These lines from Haldun Taner are like a legacy that endures today. We all need such sanctuaries where we can rest our souls and find ourselves. The fact that Markiz, once the pearl of Istanbul, has been revitalized through art while preserving its historical fabric gives us hope. To celebrate this transformation, we've featured Markiz on the cover of our magazine this month. The photographs taken by Serkan Eldeleklioğlu at midnight, capturing Markiz's captivating atmosphere, immortalize this special moment. As Haldun Taner mentioned in this new year's first issue, we hope each of these pages will be a spiritual haven, inviting you to think, feel, and find peace.
