It's a busy afternoon at Istanbul Modern, Turkey's premier modern art museum, and the gallery is packed with visitors taking selfies or discussing the artworks in hushed tones. Some pause in front of a massive canvas by celebrated German artist Anselm Kiefer, while others look in amazement at a masterpiece by Turkish abstract painter Fahrelnissa Zeid or gasp at iconic black and white images of old Istanbul by legendary local photographer Ara Guler. Since opening on December 11, 2004, Istanbul Modern, spectacularly situated on the Bosphorus with a view of the Ottoman-era Topkapi Palace, has become a symbol of 21st century Istanbul, open to outside influences but proud of its past. The rapid success of the museum was one of the reasons Newsweek magazine famously declared in a 2005 cover story that Istanbul was "one of the coolest cities" in the world. But within a few days of the visit, all the artworks will have been taken down, carefully catalogued and put into protective cases. … [Read more...] about Famed Istanbul modern art museum enters new era
Istanbul
Tanker crashes into historic mansion by Istanbul’s Bosphorus
ANKARA: A tanker crashed into a historic mansion on the shores of Istanbul's Bosphorus on Saturday after its steering equipment became locked, broadcaster CNN Turk said, adding that traffic in the strait had been suspended in both directions.Towboats and coast guard vessels were sent to the area after the crash and the "Vitaspirit" tanker, carrying a Maltese flag, was pulled back from the crash site and brought to shore, CNN Turk said.There were no immediate reports of casualties, but footage from the crash showed extensive damage to the historic seaside mansion located under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge, one of the three crossings between Istanbul's Asian and European sides.The Hekimbasi Salih Efendi Mansion has stood on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait since the 18th century and is used to host weddings and concerts, according to the mansion's website.The Bosphorus is one of the world's most important choke points for maritime oil transports, with more than 3 percent of global … [Read more...] about Tanker crashes into historic mansion by Istanbul’s Bosphorus
Major fire at Istanbul hospital, patients evacuated
ISTANBUL: A major fire on Thursday (Apr 5) broke out at a hospital in Istanbul, with patients urgently evacuated into the street and firefighters battling to control the blaze.Television pictures showed flames and black smoke engulfing the multi-storey hospital building in the Gaziosmanpasa district of Istanbul, with patients wheeled out into the street in their sick beds.The huge fire, which started in the roof, turned the side of the building into a burned-out shell and sent a massive cloud of black smoke into the evening sky visible from all over the city.Speaking at the scene, Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said the fire services had managed to bring the blaze partly under control.Echoing comments by other officials, he said there were no current reports of casualties. "So far there is no sad news. God willing, it will stay that way," he told the crowds outside in comments broadcast by television.He said that the fire had been on the outer part of the building - rather … [Read more...] about Major fire at Istanbul hospital, patients evacuated
Fashion Week helps citizens in Istanbul feel secure again
A group of stylish fashionistas looked confused as they tried to sense their way through Istanbul’s labyrinthine performance center at the Zorlu shopping mall, minutes before models hit the stage for a highlight catwalk at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Istanbul. “You better stick together and follow me or I cannot guarantee seats,” said a young man in his late 20s, steering his crowd along a long queue of equally chic guests at the event. “We bring together a group of buyers from outside the country and with the help of the government and ITKIB, we bring them to visit the fashion week,” said Avidan Attia of Showapp, an Istanbul-based creative sales development agent. His clients were among 140 buyers at the epicenter of one of the most glamorous fashion events in Turkey, also supported by the Istanbul Textile Exporters’ Association, ITKIB, eager to revitalize ties with global clients. It’s no surprise that Istanbul would host a fashion week … [Read more...] about Fashion Week helps citizens in Istanbul feel secure again
Car bomb in Istanbul kills 11, wounds 36
A car bomb ripped through a police bus in central Istanbul during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, killing 11 people and wounding 36 near the main tourist district, a major university and the mayor's office. The car was detonated as police buses passed, Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin told reporters, in the fourth major bombing in Turkey's biggest city this year. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Kurdish militants have staged similar attacks, including one last month in Istanbul. "A car-bomb attack was made against vehicles carrying our rapid-response police and passing by on the road, resulting in seven police and four civilians losing their lives," Mr Sahin said. Three of the 36 wounded were in critical condition, he added. The blast hit the Vezneciler district, between the headquarters of the local municipality and the campus of Istanbul University, not far from the city's historic heart. It shattered shop windows and scattered rubble over nearby streets. "There … [Read more...] about Car bomb in Istanbul kills 11, wounds 36