Istanbul Airport: Gateway to culture
iGA ART reimagines Istanbul Airport as a dedicated cultural space filled with art for travellers.
New directions
Airports are often seen as transient spaces. At iGA Istanbul Airport, art is providing a cultural anchor and sense of place for millions of travellers. Through iGA ART, the airport’s pioneering art programme, corridors become galleries and departure lounges turn into opportunities for discovery. From “Saya’s Voice” by Betül Kotil – a vast installation of copper bells enlivening an unused outdoor transit area – to the iGA ART Gallery, a dedicated exhibition space in the departures hall, the initiative spans mediums, scales and moments of discovery.
Art in transit
Visitors encounter art throughout the terminal, whether rushing to the gate or pausing between flights. From digital installations to large-scale sculptures, the experience is designed to engage both the busy and the unhurried. “Passengers might not stop to gaze at an artwork, but even as they move through the space, they encounter art among signs, lights and screens,” says iGA ART executive committee member Gülveli Kaya. “What matters most is that travellers feel the artistic and cultural atmosphere of the airport.”
A sense of movement
The next chapter in iGA ART’s journey will be “Untitled” by Hayri Karay, winner of the iGA ART Art Projects Contest. Wrapped in a print by Reach Geblo (1) until its unveiling, Karay’s kinetic sculpture will use light and shade to reflect Anatolia’s cultural diversity. “The sculpture’s concept of direction – up and down, right and left, inside and outside – reflects a universal idea of movement,” says Kaya. By embracing both contrast and harmony, the work embodies iGA ART’s spirit. It’s a statement of intent and a fitting symbol for a gateway that connects worlds.
