ISTANBUL'S TRIBUTE TO THE FRICK

WITH THOMAS KRENS AS ADVISER AND ZAHA HADID AS ARCHITECT, A TURKISH COUPLE PREPARES TO LAUNCH A MAJOR NEW MUSEUM

                                                         Photo by Mediasa ( copyright)

The building, an off-center cube supported by a single column, is the brainchild of – and her husband, Cengiz Çetindoğans. It will provide a permanent home for a private collection belonging to the Çetindoğans – the cetindogans’ family run conglomerate, with investments spanning luxury fashion, television stations, and hotels- exceeding 2,000 works of art. The new art center will be called the Demsa Collection, in partial tribute to New York’s Frick Collection, an institution that helped inspire the Çetindoğans to become serious collectors. “ The museum juxtaposes Turkish painting from the 18^th to the 2oth century, Islamic manuscripts, and international contemporary art” says Thomas Krens, the former director of the Guggenheim Foundation, who is serving as an adviser for the project. Half of the museum’s more than 150,000 squares feet of exhibition space will be used for temporary shows. The Demsa Collection’s arquitecture will be a big part of its attration. Demet view of the building as “ futuristic with historical touches.” Although Hadid’s final design has not been made public, early drawings show a structure with strict geometrical lines that appear to melt at the edges into mugarnas- honeycomb vaulting that it is a feature of Islamic architecture. This mex of old and new will also be reflected in the collection. The Çetindoğans are contantly buying contemporary art from around the world. Will we be surprised?