Beral Madra

Beral Madra, a critic and curator, directed Gallery BM (1984-1990) and directing BM Contemporary Art Centre (since 1990); lives and works in Istanbul. She coordinated the 1st (1987) and the 2nd (1989) Istanbul Biennale, curated exhibitions of Turkish artists in 43rd, 45th, 49th, 50th and 51st Venice Biennale, co-curated the exhibition Modernities and Memories-Recent Works from the Islamic World in 47th Venice Biennale. Since 1984 she has organized more than 250 local and international artists in her art centre and in other official art spaces in Istanbul. She curated and co-curated over 20 international group shows including Sanat, Texhn (1992); Treffen-Kunst (1993); Iskele-Türkische Kunst Heute (Berlin-Stuttgart) 1994); Orient Express (Berlin 1994); Xample (1995); Concrete Visions (1995); Gold-X-Change (1997); Kerteriz (1998); Berlin in Istanbul (Berlin 1998; Reise durch das Labyrinth (Berlin, 1998; Memories and Modernities (1998); Veritas Omnia Vincit (2000); “In Image We Trust” (2001); “Sheshow” (Sofia, 2002); “Registering the Distance- Istanbul/Los Angeles”, Crazyspace, Santa Monica (2003); “The Sphinx Will Devour You”, Karşı Sanat (2004); Bizhan Bassiri, “Evoporations”, Tophane-i Amire (2004); “Neighbours in Dialogue, Istanbul Collection Exhibition for Ars Aevi, Sarajevo” , Feshane, İstanbul (2007); “Atmosphere 41” Contemporary Art from Georgia, Siemens Art Gallery, Istanbul (2007); Opening of BM-Suma, Visual Art Centre. Istanbul; Bahcesaray, Crimea, Contemporary Art Exhibition (Turkey, Greece, Russia, Ukraine) (2008); Neighbours in Dialogue Exhibition, Sarajevo (2008); A week of Art and Culture from Turkey, Pamplona (Huarte Contemporary Art Center), Spain (2008); Istanbul Diptychs, Istanbul Centre in Brussels (2008); Contemporary Art Collection for Point Hotel, Istanbul (2009); Interstices, Central Asia Pavilion, 53rd Venice Biennale, (2009); Next Wave, Exhibition of 17 Women Artists from Turkey, Berlin Academy Pariser Platz (2009); 2010 Cityscapes, Lothringer 13, Munich; 2011 Advisory Curator of the Pavilion of Azerbaijan at 54th Venice Biennale Beral Madra is representing Istanbul Scholarship of Berlin Senate since 1995. Curated international shows in Borusan Art Gallery (1997-2000). Curated the exhibitions in West LB, Istanbul (1999-2002). Lectured in the Art Management Department of the Faculty of Art and Design of Yildiz Technical University (1998-2002). She is founding member Diyarbakır Art Centre (established September 2002 ; founding member of Foundation of Future Culture and Art; founding member and honorary president of AICA, Turkey (established 2003). 2008-2010 Visual Arts Director of Istanbul 2010 ECOC. Publications: “Identity of Contemporary Art” (1987), “Postperipheral Flux-A Decade of Contemporary Art in Istanbul” (1996); “İki Yılda Bir Sanat” (Art Every Two Years- Essays on Biennale), Norgunk Yayıncılık, 2003; “Neighbours in Dialogue”, Norgunk, 2005; “Maidan” Essays on Contemporary Art in South Caucasus and Middle East, BM CAC Publications, 2007. “Home Affairs”, Essays on Contemporary Art in Turkey, BM CAC Publications, 2009. 1980-1995 articles in Gösteri, Arredamento Dekorasyon, Cumhuriyet, Istanbul, Kalın, Anons; 1995-2010 Radikal; 2011 Birgün.