Vasif Kortun

curator, en schrijver, directeur van Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul

Vasif Kortun is a writer, curator, and teacher in the field of contemporary visual art. He is the programs and research director of SALT, to open in 2011 in Istanbul, and was the founding director of several spaces including: Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul (2001–2010); Proje4L Istanbul Museum of Contemporary Art, Istanbul (2001–2004); and the Museum of the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson (1993–1997). Kortun has curated numerous exhibitions in Turkey and internationally. He was the chief curator of the 3rd Istanbul Biennial, 1992, and co-curator (with Charles Esche) of the 9th Istanbul Biennial, 2005. In addition, he co-curated the 6th Taipei Biennial, Taipei, 2008; 2nd Biennale of Ceramics in Contemporary Art, Albisola, 2003; 24th São Paolo Biennial, São Paolo, 1998; among others. Kortun organized the Turkish Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale, Venice, 2007, and he is curator of the UAE Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale, Venice, 2011. In 2006, he received the Award for Curatorial Excellence from the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College. Kortun lives and works in Istanbul. [Last updated 2011]