Literature

The Sultans in Venice exhibition was a major three-part art event held during the 51st International Biennale in Venice in June 2005, organized by the Venetian curator Umberto Branchini. The installations appeared on twenty different terraces along the Grand Canal. The second show by Acar in Venice, also curated by Branchini, was The Sultans, held at the Fondaco dei Turchi: Museum of Natural History.

Exhibitions opened by Turkish artists individually in Venice exist as well. For instance, Turkish artist İsmail Acar realized an exhibition called ‘Sultans in Venice’ (Pic.10) independently from the biennial during the dates 51st Venice Biennial was held. Acar fixed the effigies of Ottoman Sultans on the facade of Fondaco dei Turchi building allocated for Ottoman merchants in the 17th century and used as Natural History Museum today. Fondaco dei Turchi is a building constructed in the 13th century as outstanding samples of ‘Fondaco-inns’ in Byzantine style. Ottoman merchants beginning to settle in Venice from 1575 onwards stayed in old Anzolo inn in San Mattio di Rialto for a long time and moved to Fondaco dei Turchi with the board resolution of Chamber of Commerce in 1621 (Turan, 1968: 247-283 ; Latini, 2010: 249). While Acar was using this building for his exhibition, he wanted to make an affinity of channel – bosphorus and revive the historical connection between Istanbul – Venice cities again (Acar, 2005: 52-54).

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