From the Orientalists' Istanbul to Istanbul of Biennial

The aim of this study is to identify descriptions on Istanbul's identity that has been constructed through Istanbul Biennial. Istanbul was the capital city of various civilizations in history, and historical identity of Istanbul has been determined within the framework of certain political conflicts and tensions. Istanbul has a significant place in meetings, conflicts and tensions between East and West civilizations especially after the control of Ottomans on the city. There are discussion on relationships between these two civilizations in western art history. It is possible to meet images on Istanbul since Renaissance. These images which took different forms also include western perspective on East and identity descriptions. These images which represent oriental's thought continue to exist today. With this context, it is possible to describe the biennial which has been realized since 1987 in Istanbul not only as an artistic movement but also as an area in which the identity of Istanbul has been reproduced both through old images and today's valid and accepted concepts. With this perspective, it is possible to think biennial as an effort to describe the identity of city on the axis of continuity and change.