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“Perspectives on Modernization, Art Theory, and Criticism in Türkiye” Symposium Held

Organized by the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture in honor of the academic and intellectual contributions of Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Bülent Kahraman, the symposium titled “Perspectives on Modernization, Art Theory, and Criticism in Türkiye” was held with strong interest and participation.

The opening remarks were delivered, respectively, by Prof. Dr. Adnan Uzun, Dean of the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture; Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Bülent Kahraman; and Mehmet Serdar Sarıgül, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Prof. Dr. Hasan Bülent Kahraman, along with academics, and painter, columnist, and politician Bedri Baykam, contributed to the symposium with their presentations.

In the first session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Adnan Uzun, speakers explored the relationship between modernization, art theory, and criticism from various perspectives. Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Bülent Kahraman shared his reflections on art theory and criticism in Türkiye, while Bedri Baykam discussed the structure of art institutions and the dynamics of criticism. Dr. Özüm Hatipoğlu, Head of the Department of Visual Arts, addressed visual regimes and the unconscious; Prof. Dr. Nuran Zeren Gülersoy, Head of the Department of Architecture, examined digital transformation in architecture and creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.

The second session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Banu İnanç Uyan Dur from the Department of Visual Communication Design. During this session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Süyük Makaklı from the Department of Architecture analyzed the traces of the modernization process in cultural spaces in Türkiye, while Prof. Dr. Özlem Sıla Durhan evaluated the conceptual and practical dimensions of the relationship between architecture and art. Prof. Dr. Eva Şarlak from the Department of Visual Arts discussed the relationship between tradition and modernization through the lens of sacred imagery.

The symposium, which attracted considerable participation, provided a valuable platform for discussions on the past, present, and future of art theory and criticism in Türkiye.