Vasif Kortun
In his various international projects, exhibitions, writings, and lectures, Vasif Kortun has employed an experimental approach and openness to new ideas to challenge the contemporary art world and push its parameters beyond national or international, local or global developments. He is the Director of Research and Programs, SALT, Istanbul; was founding Director of Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul, from 2001to 2010;was Chief Curator and Director of the 3rd International Istanbul Biennial in 1992; the first Director of the Museum of the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (1994–97); founding Director of the Proje4L Istanbul Museum of Contemporary Art (2001–03); and Co-Curator, with Charles Esche, of the 9th Istanbul Biennial in 2005. Kortun has undertaken numerous independent curatorial projects including most recently an exhibition of works by Cengiz Çekil at Rampa in Istanbul (2010) and The Columns Held us Up at Artists Space New York (2009). In 2011 he curated the UAE Pavilion for the Venice Biennale.
