In addition to its status as an important global transfer hub, iGA Istanbul Airport embarked on its journey with the vision of becoming a connection point for universal art, consolidating all its artistic endeavors under the umbrella of İGA ART. As part of the initial stage of the İGA ART Art Project Competition, 13 exceptional works of art were chosen for the final phase.

Through the İGA ART Art Project Competition, iGA Istanbul Airport is positioning itself as a cultural crossroads and major transportation center, striving to unite the rich cultural heritage of Anatolia with Istanbul's diverse and artistic identity. Besides being the biggest airport in the world and a global transfer hub, iGA Istanbul Airport also started its journey with the vision of being a hub for universal art and, accordingly, opened the first exhibition of the İGA ART gallery, 'Visions Under the Viaduct' which was curated by İGA ART Executive Board Member, Prof. Dr. Marcus Graf on November 27.

Architect Murat Tabanlıoğlu designed the exhibition venue as a unique structure that complements the airport's form. The gallery's debut exhibition features 13 exceptional works of art, which were successfully chosen for the final phase of the İGA ART Art Project Competition. The 'Visions Under the Viaduct' exhibition showcases the transparent and interdisciplinary approach of the İGA ART Art Project Competition.

iGA Istanbul Airport, committed to connecting people and fostering new narratives, has also embraced the task of promoting Turkish culture and art on a global scale.

The İGA ART Art Project Competition has provided a platform for emerging talent...

Young artists under the age of 35 from both Türkiye and abroad, participated in the inaugural İGA ART Art Project Competition series, which was announced on November 21, and saw a total of 221 submitted projects. The judging panel for this competition included İGA ART Executive Committee Chairman, Professor Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, Executive Committee Members Deniz Odabaş, Professor Dr. Gülveli Kaya, Professor Dr. Marcus Graf, Mehmet Ali Güveli, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Nazlı Pektaş, and well-known sculptors, Seyhun Topuz and Seçkin Pirim. Following the panel's review of the contest submissions, the finalists were announced. After a strict selection process, the winner of the competition was announced during the ceremony held at iGA Istanbul Airport. The prestigious grand prize of TRY 1 million, the largest sum awarded in a cultural and artistic competition in Türkiye to date, was presented to Betül Kotil in March for her exceptional work, "Saya's Voice".

"iGA Istanbul Airport will serve as a hub for international art."

At the inaugural exhibition of the İGA ART gallery, Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport, stated that their aim was to combine the distinctive multi-cultural identity of Istanbul, with the cultural memory of the Anatolian geography, together with other diverse cultures, and they have taken great care to remove the boundaries that constrain artistic expression. Samsunlu continued: "We are working very hard to elevate iGA Istanbul Airport beyond being just an arrival destination, and to make it a vibrant hub that visitors will want to return to. Cultural and artistic projects comprise an essential part of our endeavors. The İGA ART Art Project Competition is seeking to bring together Istanbul's rich cultural and artistic identity with the diverse cultural heritage of Anatolia. With this purpose in mind, we are excited to open our inaugural exhibition, "Visions Under the Viaduct". As you may have observed, we have consistently highlighted the statement "Türkiye's gateway to the world" when defining our vision of the country for iGA Istanbul Airport. We are now proud to declare that iGA Istanbul Airport has become Türkiye's artistic and cultural gateway to the world.

The exhibition can be visited at the A-B Knuckle in iGA Istanbul Airport's International area until January 31, 2023.