Istanbul Digital Art Festival makes international debut in Paris
This year's preview of the Istanbul Digital Arts Festival (IDAF) was held in Paris, France, April 17, 2025. (AA Photo)
The Istanbul Digital Art Festival (IDAF), supported by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, held its official international preview in Paris ahead of its highly anticipated fifth edition this June.
Hosted at the Azerbaijan Embassy’s Culture Centre in Paris, the event drew more than 200 art enthusiasts, including notable diplomats, artists, and cultural leaders from both Türkiye and France.
Memory of Anatolia: AI meets archival photography
A major highlight of the evening was the unveiling of “Hafiza Anadolu” (Memory of Anatolia), an artificial intelligence-powered digital artwork created by Turkish art studio Ouchhh. The piece was composed using millions of photographs from Anadolu Agency’s (AA) archives, capturing Türkiye’s social, cultural, and political history through the lens of machine learning.
“Memory of Anatolia” reflects the intersection of data, heritage, and creativity, offering a deeply immersive experience that transforms archival visuals into living digital art.
Shusha’s solo debut captivates Paris
The event also featured a live solo exhibition by Shusha, Azerbaijan’s first AI artist. Shusha’s performance added a compelling dimension to the evening, further underlining the rising influence of artificial intelligence in contemporary art scenes across the world.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva expressed her excitement about hosting the event. “This is the first time our cultural centre has opened its doors to a digital art exhibition,” she said. “We hope this festival continues to connect artists and audiences around the world, celebrating the transformative power of art.”
IDAF Director: ‘On the path to becoming a global brand’
IDAF Director Nabat Garakhanova emphasized the growing prestige of the festival: “In its fifth year, Istanbul Digital Art Festival is taking confident steps toward becoming a global brand. We are proud to be Türkiye’s only international digital art festival and thrilled that it is being recognized worldwide.”
She extended her gratitude to all artists, supporters, and festival partners for contributing to the festival’s success and growth.
Emotions born from algorithms
Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) Paris Director Dudu Keles also praised the event and the festival’s vision: “When I first heard about IDAF, I was intrigued. Seeing the work of Garakhanova’s team has been deeply inspiring. Here, algorithms meet human talent—and emotions are born from that fusion.”
Türkiye’s only international digital art festival returns this June
Set to take place at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul, this year’s IDAF will run under the theme “Connecting.”
The festival will host a rich program of exhibitions, workshops, panels, audiovisual shows, and interactive performances, uniting local and global voices in digital art.
