From the Biennial Curator's statement...

I think this is an extremely astute description of not only issues dealt with in the exhibitions here but also a description of the condition of Istanbul today, one I found very surprising...

In today's geopolitical reality, it is necessary and urgent to deal with question of modernization. Urbanization, or explosive urban expansion in the Istanbul fashion, is the most visible and significant sign of modernization. Exploring the urban and architectural conditions of Istanbul has hence become a starting point and central reference to the conception of this Biennial. And contemporary art as an avant-garde in cultural experiments should engage with the city, and it is through this engagement that the biennial will acquire fresh energy and significance in a new reality. the biennial should become a laboratory for innovative projects and strategies, and a site for experiments and productions with different, multiple models of modernization. --Hou Hanru