In line with the general focus on inclusivity, interaction, and dialogue—the founding features of the Çanakkale Biennial—the 9th edition has been designed to create a vibrant platform where young people can experience the rich ecosystem of contemporary art, focusing on current issues. The title of this edition, "Let Time Run its Course” refers both to the actual meaning of the phrase and its connotations: It suggests considering the healing effect of time with regard to seemingly unsolvable situations of today, advocating for a calm approach instead of the haste implied by urgency. On one hand, this phrase suggests experiencing and perceiving the "moments" of the world, nature, and humanity from a broader perspective, especially against the pressure of speed and simultaneity imposed by contemporary technologies or the excitement, liveliness, and high energy, which are often associated with "youth," while on the other.
The artistic content of the 9th Çanakkale Biennial focuses on the concept of "youth" through three interconnected axes:
Youth Culture and Art-Technology Connections: Under this theme, the biennial brings together the works of artists from different generations who focus on the intersection of contemporary art and technology, digital and interactive platforms, gaming culture, and communication tools. It explores how technological advancements, which have become an inseparable part of young people's lives, shape today's visual culture and stretch the boundaries of art, while also trying to offer different perspectives on the relationship with the digital ecosystem.
Fresh Approaches to Global Issues: Artistic approaches to global issues affecting today's youth, such as the future of professions, environmental sustainability, and mobility, form the second axis of the biennial. Reflecting the complexity of contemporary youth experiences, feelings ranging from hope and expectation to anxiety and concern, the biennial serves as an open platform for dialogues on these issues through the language of art through innovative approaches.
Art in the Transmission of Culture: The central function of art in preserving cultural heritage, traditions, and collective memory and passing them on to future generations forms the third axis of the biennial. The proposed artistic journeys aim to give the audience an experience of how conceptual, visual, and poetic expressions can serve as a bridge between the past, present, and future. The emphasis on the importance of cultural continuity is enriched by productions that focus on the role of collective memory in shaping community narratives, its reflections and interpretations in the contemporary cultural ecosystem.
Reflecting the structure of the Çanakkale Biennial, which is woven through various institutional, curatorial, and artistic collaborations, the 9th edition titled "Let Time Run its Course" also carries the desire to "entrust and pass on to the future" nearly two decades of art productions accumulated by the biennial, the institutional models and strategies it has developed, and its memory.
For a new generation museum model!