ArtDog Istanbul English Edition Magazine - Fall 2023

In this issue

Akbelen Forest, home to various tree species, such as pine, oak, alder, and chestnut as well as; different wild animals such as bear, deer, boar, fox, and rabbit has been under threat by a coal mine plan since 2021. If this plan works and the coal mine is fully developed, it will destroy thousands of trees covering around 400 hectares of forest.

Lately, the local community and NGOs have been protesting against this decision. Locals of İkizköy at Akbelen reacted to the mine project. They are still protesting against Limak Holding’s mine Project with NGOs and environmental activists.

Limak Holding’s Executive Board Chairwoman Ebru Özdemir is a member of the SAHA Association, which supports Turkish artists, curators, and writers in improving their work.

No doubt, Limak is not the only example in this issue, but rather the most current one. Companies that harm the environment try to create the ‘illusion’ that they are committed to sustainability by sponsoring artistic projects related to environmentalism.

Recent history is full of examples of companies sponsoring modern and contemporary art museums or exhibitions. Both in Turkey and around the world. Academic Fırat Arapoğlu delves into this subject as he asks:

* How should the art world react to companies that sponsor the arts while damaging the environment?
* Is it ethical for such companies to sponsor art?
* Will the art world ignore this contradiction, or will it bring it to light?
* Does sponsoring artistic events erase these companies’ environmental destruction record?
* Shouldn’t arts institutions that receive sponsorship from these companies also bear some responsibility?
* Will the art world continue to trust these institutions?

ArtDog Istanbul English Edition Magazine Description:

ArtDog Istanbul is an online and bimonthly printed arts and culture publication focuses mostly on contemporary art covering other disciplines like theatre, music, literature, cinema, design, fashion and architecture.

It features local and international contemporary art in all its shapes and forms, artnews, articles from recent and current issues, in depth interviews, special reports, opinion pieces and reviews.

Targeting both the specialist, professional and general audiences ArtDog aims to lift the barriers between artist/art and the audience. ArtDog acts as a bridge between global and local art platforms offering a colourful and intimate portrait of the arts and culture scene.

ArtDog Istanbul is bilingual both in Turkish and English and combines dynamic content with compelling critical debate, exploring the best in contemporary art and culture, in Turkey and beyond.