Fikret Mualla Retrospective

Istanbul Modern celebrated the 102nd birthday of Fikret Muallâ, one of the leading names in Turkish painting, with a comprehensive exhibition of his work.

For the first time ever, this retrospective brought together 243 works of art from 35 collections, which it was presenting both thematically and historically so as to reflect every dimension of Fikret Muallâ’s unique world.

The exhibition aimed to turn overturn the common perception of the artist deriving from his unusual, turbulent and bohemian lifestyle, and was the most comprehensive retrospective ever of Fikret Muallâ in terms of number of works involved.

The exhibition created associations between Fikret Muallâ’s understanding of painting and diversed themes and included the artist’s gouaches, watercolors and sketches as well as a photobiography of pictures taken by Ara Güler.

Sponsored by Eti, the Fikret Muallâ Retrospective opened on 14 April in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery. This was Istanbul Modern’s first retrospective and with it, the museum launched its first touring educational exhibition and audio tour as well as a documentary and alphabet book produced specially for the exhibition.

During the exhibition, Istanbul Modern hold a variety of activities and events in its educational unit, library, auditorium, and mobile exhibition vehicle. Special exhibition products were available for purchase in the museum shops.

Curated by Haşim Nur Gürel, Levent Çalıkoğlu and Ali Akay, “Fikret Muallâ Retrospective” introduced viewers to the creativity and rich imagination of this artist, whose life and work have made him both one of the most important and one of the most debated names in Turkish painting. Known as much for his tragic life as for his superior artistic persona, Fikret Muallâ has become a legendary figure since his death.

While endeavoring to draw attention to the lesser known sides of this celebrated artist, the exhibition highlighted the differences between works of art that appear to be the same, suggested how works dealing with the same theme but created at different times and in diverse emotional states nourished each other, and examined the place in modern life of an artist who wanted to make a living from painting.

Curators: Haşim Nur Gürel - Ali Akay - Levent Çalıkoğlu