• Foreword - The Organizers
• Where? Here? - Fulya Erdemci
• The "Neresi? Burası?" of Similarity and Difference - Miyuki Aoli Girardelli
• Turkey? Saitama? - Yuji Maeyama
• A Positively Depressed View of the Situation
EXHIBITION
• Huseyin Alptekin
• Yetkin Basarir
• Cevdet Erek
• Esra Ersen
• Leyla Gediz
• Gülsün Karamustafa
• Ömer Ali Kazma
• Fusun Onur
• Nasan Tur
• Seçil Yersel
Turkey and Japan have developed a deep bond of friendship since the Meiji period. Even now, Turkey is one of the countries Japanese people most want to visit, and this friendly relationship was further strengthened through last year's FIFA World Cup. In 2003, various cultural events are being held to celebrate Year of Turkey in Japan.
One of these events, the exhibition ‘Turkish Art Today: neresi? burasi? (Where? Here?)', will be held at the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama. Through the International Istanbul Biennial, Turkey has become one of the most prominent countries in the contemporary art world in recent years. This exhibition will be the first in Japan to present an overview of Turkey 's very advanced contemporary art scene. Most of the artists ranging from the up-and-coming younger generation to those who have been active since the 1970s, are already internationally recognized artists who have taken part in exhibitions all over the world. Although their media of expression, including video art, photographs, painting and performance, are diverse, a perceptible common trend in their works is these artists' questioning of their own “position” in the world.
Located between Asia and Europe, Turkey has retained its traditional Islamic culture but has distinctive geographical and political characteristics reflected, for instance, in its recent bid to become a member of the European Union. Turkey 's contemporary artists seem to be considering where they stand as individuals in relation to their various environments-city, nation, society, politics, tradition and culture. The exhibition examines this situation, taking as key words the two Turkish words neresi (“where?”) and burasi (“here?).
We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the curators, Emre Baykal, Fulya Erdemci and Vasif Kortun, and to the coordinator, Miyuki Aoki Girardelli, for their tremendous effects in planning and preparation, to the artists exhibiting their works, to the Turkish Embassy for its support, to Kao Corporation for its sponsorship, to Turkish Airlines, the Omiya Branch Office of East Japan Railways and Hotel Brillante Musashino for their cooperation, and to everyone else who assisted in the organization of this exhibition.
