Borusan Contemporary: Art In the Office!

We decide to meet with a friend, whom I have not been able to see for a long time, over the weekend. And I say, “Let’s make a change this time and go the “Perili Köşk” before chatting.”

The “Perili Köşk” (Haunted Mansion) dates back to the 1910’s, and belongs to Borusan Holding since May 2002. And starting with September 2011, it is being used as a contemporary art museum open to the public over the weekends, while it is used as office during the week.

According to some, the name “Perili Köşk” comes from the howling sound from the vacant stories during construction which took a long time, and according to others, from a girl – as beautiful as a fairy – who had once lived in the building and lost her life there.

We are lucky, our free of charge guided tour starts within 10 minutes.  

The display of the collection, comprised of more than 600 items belonging to Borusan Holding, is being changed in 3 months intervals in order for the guests to be able to see all of them. Our guide informs us beforehand, we are not allowed to take photos of these pieces.

The offices, meeting rooms, recreation rooms, corridors, stairs, terrace, in short, all areas in the building have been utilized for the exhibition. We see a different masterpiece everywhere.

For example, the wall papers we see in the corridors have been made especially for Borusan Holding. The company’s symbol – pipes have been used as the pattern. It is used at all stories in the building and leaves a sense of infinity on the observer.

The tower shaped room on the terrace, which we can also see from the outside, used to be utilized for lookout purposes in the past. Starting with Borusan, it has begun to be used as the coffee room of the managers. Artist Ekrem Yalçındağ has designed the room with over 12 hues of the color of the coffee bean.

 In the collection, we see a kinetic sculpture that has 2 solar panels on it. These panels use the sunlight and the spotlights and help the sculpture to generate energy, and this generated energy is used to strike the strings of the instrument at the bottom of the sculpture that looks like the “saz”. Depending on the energy that has been accumulated, it is possible to hear a sound once in 20 to 30 minutes. In that sense, what we see is actually a functional sculpture.

Another work is the “Sketch Mirror” developed by special software and a digital screen. When you stand in front of it, it transforms your image into a sketch drawing. The artist has aimed to make an interactive study that includes its viewer.  

Just as we are listening to our guide about this piece, a group of children arrive together with 2 instructors. The instructors are raising questions in order to help children in establishing an association with contemporary art. The Sketch Mirror attracts the children’s attention a lot. Each one goes from shape to shape in order to be seen on the screen. We watch them for a while, and then move on.

The video performance titled “56 Tiny Helicopters” was just about to end when we entered the room; it started again in a short while. The toy helicopters in the room are lined in a certain pattern. Then all of them start trying to move simultaneously, some take off at once, some try and remain on the ground. But at the end, all of them use up their batteries, and scatter around different parts of the room. This study may be interpreted as life. And since we are watching it at the Holding building, it may also be thought of as the chaos in work life. 

In addition, there also are temporary exhibitions performed within the scope of the collection and changed at 3 months’’ intervals. We got the chance to see the exhibition of the Austrian artist, Brigitte Kowanz titled “Cut A Long Story Short”.

In her piece titled “Makes Sense”, all lines stand for a letter in the Morse alphabet. The title of the work is also seen in the work. In another piece, “Cut A Long Story Short” is written in Neon lights and the Morse alphabet.

The bottom part of the work titled “Magic of Space” is designed in steel. As you turn around the piece, you observe a different diffraction, a different shadow from each angle. The artist points out to the fact that the piece evolves into a work of art through our observation.

Another piece where the complete Morse alphabet is seen is interpreted as a study leaving one hanging in between the virtual and reality.

The Borusan Holding “Perili Köşk” building has a fabulous view at Rumelihisarı. When we go up to the sightseeing terrace, just as most of the visitors in the tour, we take lots of photos with the fantastic blue of the Bosphorus at the background. At the same time, it is possible to take a breather at the café on the first floor and enjoy the deep blue.

 

At the end of our tour, I am delighted when my friend says; "Borusan fortunately has acquired this building and transformed it into a museum. We are able to experience this historical building, and visit this fabulous museum. "

I strongly recommend it to all art-lovers.

Love,

İpek

Note:

* At Borusan Contemporary there also are workshops for children on 5-14 years of age, in groups of 15-20. For reservations and detailed information, you may call 0212 3620096 or contact info@borusancontemporary.com e-mail address.