Istanbul Modern brings together two towering figures of the art and literary worlds, Ali Kazma and Alberto Manguel, for a memorable event. Held in conjunction with Kazma’s highly anticipated exhibition Landscapes of the Mind, this encounter promises a profound journey into the magical intersection of words and images.
A Library’s Journey Transformed into Art
Running from June 13, 2025, to February 1, 2026, Landscapes of the Mind showcases Ali Kazma’s works centered on books and literature since the 2010s. The exhibition features a curated selection from Kazma’s video and photography archive, with a major highlight being the Turkish premiere of his 2024 video Alberto in Lisbon. This work captures the relocation of legendary Argentine writer and book historian Alberto Manguel’s personal library of tens of thousands of books to Portugal, presenting a poignant exploration of a memory space in transit.
A Conversation Between Reality and Imagination
The pinnacle of this unique exhibition will be a talk on Saturday, June 14, at 3:00 p.m. Moderated by co-curator Demet Yıldız Dinçer, Ali Kazma and Alberto Manguel will come together at Istanbul Modern’s Auditorium.
The discussion will explore Kazma’s endeavor to create a “poetic” map of the world alongside Manguel’s vision of the library as a “portal of transformation between reality and imagination.” This dialogue, which dissolves the boundaries between art and literature, will be free for all art enthusiasts. The event will be conducted in English with simultaneous translation provided.
A Special Book Signing for Literature Lovers
Book enthusiasts are in for an additional treat: Alberto Manguel will meet readers and sign copies of his books at Yapı Kredi Publications’ Beyoğlu Bookstore on Friday, June 13, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
This two-day event marathon is already poised to leave a lasting mark on Istanbul’s cultural and artistic agenda.
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