Istanbul Biennial Director Bige Örer Resigns

Born in Istanbul, Bige Örer studied political science, public administration and sociology. During her career at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, she worked on the realisation of eleven editions of the Istanbul Biennial. Under her directorship, the biennial has progressed in terms of the volume of exhibited works, new venue discoveries and the number of viewers exceeding 500 thousand. She pioneered programmes to introduce the Istanbul Biennial to a wider audience, especially children and youth. She co-edited the children’s book, A Colourful Ride on the Time Machine: Istanbul Biennials for Children, together with Süreyyya Evren, and supported the publication of the Istanbul Biennial’s children’s books series. By building collaborations in different provinces of Turkey and internationally, she disseminated the programmes of the biennial across people and institutions beyond Istanbul.

Örer took part in the formation of the Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme, and the SaDe Artist Support Fund, as well as in the coordination of the Cité des Arts Turkey Workshop Artist Residency Programme and the Pavilion of Turkey at the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions of la Biennale di Venezia. In 2022, she curated the Füsun Onur exhibition, Once upon a time..., in the Pavilion of Turkey at the 59th International Art Exhibition. Her other curatorial projects include Flâneuses (Institut français Istanbul, 2017), Linear Transcendence (Cansu Çakar, Darat al Funun, 2016) and Agoraphobia (13th Istanbul Biennial and TANAS, Berlin, 2013).

Having worked with many NGOs, scholars and experts from multiple disciplines, Örer was one of the founding members of the Curatorial Studies Seminars, a joint project between Kadir Has University Faculty of Art and Design’s Master of Design Programme, and the Istanbul Biennial. She has written articles on biennials for various publications and lectured at Istanbul Bilgi University. Örer has served as a consultant and jury member in many international art institutions. She has been the vice-president of the International Biennial Association since its foundation in March 2013. She is also a member of the editorial and programming board of the association’s journal, PASS.

Preparations for the 18th Istanbul Biennial continue as planned, under the coordination of the biennial team. The announcement regarding the appointment of a new director will be made in the coming days.

Main Image :Bige Örer, photo David Levine