Discover Istanbul’s essence through art at Is Bankasi’s new exhibition

Türkiye Is Bankasi Painting Sculpture Museum has opened its first temporary exhibition, “Istanbul’un Resmi” (The image of Istanbul).

This exhibition presents Istanbul-themed paintings from the bank’s collection, offering visitors a unique view of the city through artists’ eyes.

Gift for Republic’s 100th anniversary

Türkiye Is Bankasi gifted this museum to the nation on the Republic’s 100th anniversary. The museum on Istiklal Street in Beyoglu holds an extensive collection of about 2,700 works. Under the Is Sanat umbrella, the museum adds an important landmark to Türkiye’s cultural and artistic landscape.

Curator professor Gul Irepoglu described the exhibition’s layout: “In this exhibition, you will journey through Istanbul, starting from the Historical Peninsula, crossing Galata Bridge, gazing at the Golden Horn, and moving towards the Bosphorus.”

“The paintings guide you along the Bosphorus shore, then on a mythical ferry to the Asian side, reaching Uskudar, Kizkulesi, and Haydarpasa. This journey ends at the Princes’ Islands, exploring Istanbul’s neighborhoods through various impressions captured on canvas,” she continued.

Exploring Istanbul through art

The exhibition features mid-20th-century visual documents of Istanbul, presenting the city’s flowers, boats, streets, and seasons. Prof. Dr. Irepoglu, who also prepared a book for the exhibition, emphasized Istanbul’s mystical geography and deep history, which connects two seas and separates two continents.

“Two main emotions stand out in these paintings: the artists’ love and passion for the city and desire to capture Istanbul’s light. The book tries to depict Istanbul not just through paintings but also with photographs, films, and poems, including quotes from travelers. These landscapes serve as important visual documents for Istanbul, making the paintings very valuable,” she explained.

The “Istanbul’un Resmi” exhibition offers a comprehensive artistic exploration of Istanbul, enriching the city’s cultural fabric and providing art enthusiasts with an insightful experience.