The New Istanbul Modern – City Of Ferment?

“The Istanbul Modern’s chief curator, Rosa Martínez, calls the museum’s opening ‘a strong aesthetic, social and political statement’ about Turkey’s will ‘to live together with the other European countries.’ Indeed, the plan to build a contemporary museum in the city’s heart had stalled for years until Erdogan’s government cleared the way. Can art in Istanbul remain immune to political pressure or even criticize the status quo? Or will this art be co-opted by political and economic forces?”