Turkish Pavilion Curator Resigns Amidst Controversy at Venice Biennale

Esra Sarıgedik Öktem, the curator selected for the Turkish pavilion at the Venice Biennale, has resigned in protest of the rejection of Defne Ayas as the curator of the Istanbul Biennial. The decision sparked criticism of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) for its opaque selection process and conflict of interest. Ayas had been unanimously chosen by the advisory board, which included the newly appointed Istanbul Biennial curator Iwona Blazwick. It is speculated that Ayas was not appointed due to her acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. The controversy has reignited debates about censorship and the responsibility of arts institutions. The IKSV has not addressed the backlash or reconsidered its decision.