"In this first Istanbul Design Biennial which we have been preparing for since 2010, we aimed at organising an event that would encompass not only design, but all related creative industries that have gained momentum all over the world in recent years," stated IKSV Chairman Bülent Eczacibasi. "Aiming to treat design as a cultural element and examine it from different angles, as well as, think about it anew and urge others to do the same, we wanted to approach the field from the unique perspective of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. (...) Like all other events organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, we hope that the Istanbul Design Biennial will be a successful one that will enrich its discipline, promote the country's contemporary cultural production in the international arena and provide audiences in Istanbul an opportunity to examine diverse trends and practices from all over the world.'
The first Istanbul Design Biennial has adopted the theme "Imperfection" at the suggestion of Deyan Sudjic, member of its Advisory Board and Director of Design Museum in London. In his text on the first Istanbul Design Biennial theme, Deyan Sudjic stated that there is nowhere better to explore it than in Istanbul, a city of infinite layers, charged with the vitality that comes from engaging with rapid urban, social and cultural change. Sudjic also highlighted that Istanbul as a city, is far from perfect, yet it is one of the most exhilarating and dynamic centres in the world. Its special quality is that it makes so much from the imperfect, the inexact and the provisional. The theme "Imperfection" of the Istanbul Design Biennial will both celebrate Istanbul's distinctive creative qualities and encapsulate a wider discussion about the nature of design in the contemporary world. It will tell the world something about Istanbul and offer the world a sharp insight into the nature of contemporary design. Imperfection is a new take on old ideas, and at the 1st Istanbul Design Biennial, it is interpreted from two different perspectives, in Musibet and Adhocracy.
The theme "Imperfection" of the Istanbul Design Biennial will both celebrate Istanbul's distinctive creative qualities and encapsulate a wider discussion about the nature of design in the contemporary world
Organized in conjunction with the Audi Urban Future Initiate, the four-day conference Ideas City will feature a series of workshops, a lecture by New York City Planning Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Planning Commission Amanda Burden, and, on 18 October, the announcement of the winner of the second Audi Urban Future Initiative Award.
