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The four-week residency programme for young designers run by the Istanbul Design Biennial organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Camekân took place between 31 January and 28 February. The programme was carried out thanks to the support of the Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II), and in partnership with the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG).
Camekân constitutes a new learning platform, based on mutual discussion and inspiration, leading to original productions.
A meeting point for eight designers and eight mentors from Turkey and Europe
Camekân hosted eight emerging designers from Europe and different cities across Turkey. The participants were selected through an open call, among candidates who are open to collaborate and work in a multidisciplinary environment. They connected with the city of Istanbul and its creative heritage.
The young designers who took part in Camekân were Clemens Lauer, Elif Sarıgüzmen, Hanieh Fatouraee, Jannik Lang, Kathrin Rüll, Kusay Tatlı, Pia Matthes and Yılmaz Şahser.
Drafted by Jan Boelen (curator working across the fields of design, architecture and contemporary art and Rector of the Karlsruhe University of Art & Design – HfG) and Mevce Çıracı (designer, partner at FIELDS and lecturer at the Bahçeşehir University), the programme has also hosted eight mentors, all experts in an array of design fields, throughout its duration. The other six mentors of Camekân were Ayşenaz Toker (designer and design educator); Candaş Şişman (artist, co-founder of Nohab and NOS); Meriç Kara (designer and instructor); Mustafa Emin Büyükcoşkun (artist, filmmaker and instructor at HfG); Norina Quinte (concept developer, art manager and art researcher) and the curatorial team of Ornamenta 2024, consisting of Katharina Wahl (designer), Jules van den Langenberg (curator) and Willem Schenk (strategist).
The mentors met with the participants on a regular basis, guided them through their research and production of new works, and gave public lectures. These open lectures unfolded either as talks taking place at Barın Han, or sometimes as walks through a particular destination in Istanbul or visits to specific locations in the city.
The designers’ studio was located at Barın Han
After functioning as the bookbinding workshop for prominent calligraphy and bookbinding artist Prof. Emin Barın, the historical Barın Han was recently converted into a creative destination for artists and designers. The venue hosted the entire programme, allocating one of its studios for the designers to carry out their individual and collective works.
Interdisciplinary projects inspired by Istanbul
Camekân paved the way for intercultural exchange and dialogue by bringing the participants together in Istanbul, a city that offers diverse, fruitful and dynamic ground for artistic production, nourished by both tradition and innovation. The young designers who took part in Camekân visited the city through guided tours, drew inspiration from the local knowledge, crafts, materials (both natural and human-made), sounds, smells and images and created a narrative inspired by their personal explorations.
Camekân open studio days
The designers’ Istanbul-inspired projects, which took shape throughout the programme, were open to visit at Barın Han from 26 February until 6 March.
Coming Soon: Camekân Journal
The journal of the programme, which took shape thanks to the contributions of both the designers and their mentors, will be published online, by the end of March, on the Istanbul Design Biennial’s web page. This multimedia journal documents the experience of collaborative creation fostered by the programme, acting as an archive of the whole process.
Multidisciplinary Platforms For Cultural Collaboration (CO-LAB) – Camekân is supported under the “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II)” implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the financial support of the European Union. The “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II)” aims for the promotion and enhancement of common cultural heritage activities implemented in partnership between Turkish and EU organizations. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is the institution responsible for the technical implementation of the Grant Scheme Programme, while the Central Finance and Contracts Unit is the Contracting Authority. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Coordinator Beneficiary, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.