Koman Foundation Up-Coming Projects

UP-COMING PROJECTS (2007-2010)

'Hulda, the Arts & Sciences Sailing Festival’ project

The Hulda project is the launching of an innovative travelling festival using M/S Hulda (the centennial sailing boat on which Ilhan Koman used to live and work) as an attractive infrastructure for coordinating events raising the interest of youth, non-specialised public, universities, Civil Society Organisations and science centres for bridges between sciences, arts and daily life.

The basic concept is to reveal the overlap between art and science and use it as an additional means of informal science education, enabling a wider public to reflect and debate on science and technology.

It is expected to reach 150,000 persons directly and millions through media.

Hulda will visit 10 European ports for her 1st trip from Stockholm to Istanbul. The festival will be implemented thanks to the cooperation of culture and science organisers in the 10 cities and include:

1. An international PR campaign

2. An onboard exhibition of artworks by the Swedish-Turkish artist-scientist Ilhan Koman demonstrating scientific phenomena relating to research topics as alternative energy and developable forms

3. Under a juxtaposed tent, activities on the reciprocal influence of science and culture, interacting with the public on several areas as health and alternative energy

4. For laymen to access science: Workshops making science more playful targeting 54,000 youngsters where they will empirically experience the scientific properties of the art pieces

5. For scientists to communicate better: A competition encouraging young scientists to write vulgarized scientific texts about the artworks. Selected writings will be published and distributed in 10 countries

6. An ‘arrival’ exhibition will feature photos and films telling the story of the festival

7. A public meeting will reveal all the festival’s outputs in the presence of all EU partners and of winning students brought together for evaluation of the activities and sustaining of the network

The Festival will cruise along the EU in 2009 and arrive during the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture festivities.

Hulda project is currently under evaluation for funding from the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme and from the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Committee. Results of evaluation will be communicated by the end of year 2007.

Implementation of Koman's artworks in public spaces

('To Infinity...')

After the implementation of ‘To Infinity…’ monumental sculpture in Santral Istanbul during summer 2007, the Koman Foundation will work on further projects aiming at realising in large scale some of Ilhan Koman’s prototypes or small artworks.

('Akdeniz')

A discussion is being held with Antalya Municipality (South Turkey) and architect Nevzat Sayin for the project of realising a 30-meter high ‘Akdeniz’ (‘Mediterranean’) iron sculpture that would face the Mediterranean Sea on one of Antalya’s most impressive cliffs.

('Pi Series')

Another discussion is currently held with Konak Municipality (Izmir – Turkey) and architect Nevzat Sayin for the projects of building Koman’s ‘Pi Series’ along Izmir sea side (Kordon) and/or of realising a large scale version of the column like sculpture ‘Response to Brancusi’ on one of Izmir’s hills.

('Response to Brancusi')

Two major Koman’s monumental artworks are currently available for implementation in different locations than their original sites. A motorised, 5-meter high, ‘Portal’ metal sculpture, from Koman’s ‘Moebius Series’ is stored in Stockholm (Sweden) and an exact copy of ‘Akdeniz’ (‘Mediterranean’) is stored in Turkish government’s premises own in Hanover (Germany).

('Portal')

Negotiations for new implementation sites are to be soon opened by the Koman Foundation.

Ilhan Koman exhibition tour around Turkey

After several successful exhibitions of Koman’s works in Istanbul and Izmir, the Koman Foundation works on possibilities to reiterate the ‘Ilhan Koman Retrospective’ in Turkish cities such as Edirne (Ilhan Koman’s hometown), Ankara, Antalya, Diyarbakir, Eskisehir and Canakkale.

Ilhan Koman Retrospective Tour abroad

The Koman Foundation works on presenting the ‘Ilhan Koman Retrospective’ in Stockholm (Sweden), New York (USA), Paris (France), Shanghai (China), Dubai (Emirates) and Tokyo (Japan) in the coming years.

'Art, Nature & Science' children workshops

(educator Ulas Cibuk)

Together with the Ilhan Koman exhibition tour in Turkish cities, the Koman Foundation aims at setting up workshops with local children, civil society and public authorities, in order to sensitize the youth to cultural heritage, technology and natural resources of Turkey.

Koman Art & Science Centre

(sketch by Nevzat Sayin)

This project is under discussion with Santral Istanbul, in order to open a centre (to be named 'Koman Workshop') on the Santral site (in Eyüp district) that would comprise:

- A permanent exhibition of Ilhan Koman's artworks and scientific studies

- Permanent and temporary exhibitions of artworks demonstrating scientific phenomena

- An art gallery opened to promising sculptors

- A high-tech sculpture workshop to enable artists to realise monumental artworks

- Children workshops related to arts, sciences & urban planning.