Of all the materials known to be used by artists, stone is one of the most impressive and foreboding. This is what ran through my mind when I approached the Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum (SSM). Before even entering the museum, visitors are brought face-to-face with Kapoor’s sculptures. One of the distinctive aspects of this exhibition is the fact that many pieces of art are displayed in the garden and grounds of the museum for visitors to admire from afar and up-close.
The public display of Kapoor’s art complemented the fall colors, leaves and diverse vegetation that surrounds the museum. One of the first of Kapoor’s creations as your approach the entrance to the museum and exhibition is entitled Sky Mirror. I could see myself and my surroundings reflected in the stainless steel surface of the art – it looked like something from a different civilization altogether. Those who have encountered his Cloud Gate in Chicago’s Millennium Park have probably felt a similar sensation.
Inside, the exhibition is located on two floors of the museum. While I was there, a museum worker was giving a tour to local middle school students. He was asking them what they thought each piece of art looked like. Many answered like a ball or wall. It was nice to see students’ creativity and imagination being encouraged and fostered through an educational outreach program offered by the SSM.
Walking around the museum, I got a better sense of the truly impressive work that Kapoor and his team of artısts have achieved. The way that he has crafted and molded the stone (and granite and onyx) is quite fascinating. A lot of what he does is reflect the natural world back into his work. To me some of his work represented birth and creation, especially the work of curved granite which resembled a woman’s womb. I also enjoyed his designs that incorporated optical effects and found his use of color, especially blue and yellow, to be particularly striking.
With Anish Kapoor in Istanbul at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum, visitors will have the chance to see outstanding craftsmanship by a major contemporary artist who uses natural resources such as stone, granite, and onyx. Moreover, they will be able to draw their own conclusions about Kapoor’s work since it is ripe for interpretation. Make sure to stop by this fun and thoughtful exhibit before it ends on 2 February 2014.
For more information, visit the Sakıp Sabancı Museum website and the micro-site for Anish Kapoor’s exhibit.
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