Seeing Young Artists at Taksim Sanat

Taksim Sanat is an exhibition space run by IBB Kultur AS, right beside Taksim Square. What makes it notable is being a gallery with free entry at the busiest point in the city; you do not need to plan a trip to see art, because it is already where you are passing. Young Encounters One of the space's regular exhibitions is called Young Encounters, and its aim is to make the work of young artists visible in public space. Selections with artists from different cities across Turkey bring together hundreds of works across disciplines such as painting, sculpture, video and installation. The third edition drew forty-four artists and showed one hundred and thirty-one works, which gives a sense of the scale. Workshops Workshops prepared in response to the exhibitions are the space's second activity. Hands-on sessions such as ceramic painting, arranged separately for children and adults, add making to the programme rather than only viewing. Places are limited and registration is usually required in advance. When to go Exhibitions are seasonal, and the space can be closed between one closing and the next opening. So it is necessary to check the current programme before going. Weekday afternoons are the quietest; at weekends Taksim is crowded anyway and the gallery grows busier with it. What is nearby Taksim Square, the Ataturk Cultural Centre and Istiklal Street are within walking distance. You can enter the AKM foyer without a ticket and its bookshop and design store are open all day, so combining the two in one visit makes sense. From Istiklal you can also walk on to the other galleries of Beyoglu. Why it matters The city's large museums show established names; here you see the work of artists who have not yet found a place to exhibit. That is a different experience for the viewer too, because you have to decide for yourself whether you like it, with no ready-made reputation in front of you. How to see the exhibition In selections of young artists the works are not in a single style; painting, sculpture, video and installation stand side by side. That scatter is not a flaw but the point of the show. Rather than moving quickly, stopping at three or four works and reading their labels works better; as it is a first exhibition for many of the artists, the idea behind the work is explained in the text. How many to go with The space is not large, so a big group makes it harder to see. Going alone or in a pair suits standing in front of a work and talking about it. If you join a workshop, registration is per person. When to come back Exhibitions change every few months, so coming several times in a year means seeing different work. Following the calendar also makes it possible to track the later work of the same artists.