Istanbul. Borusan Otomotiv, BMW’s official importer
in Türkiye and the brand’s largest importer worldwide, is bringing
Turkish contemporary art to the global stage as a key partner of the
Türkiye Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La
Biennale di Venezia. The pavilion, commissioned by the Istanbul
Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), showcases “A Kiss on the
Eyes” by acclaimed artist Nilbar Güreş, curated by Başak Doğa
Temür until November 2026 at the Sale d’Armi, Arsenale.
Every year on the occasion of La Biennale di Venezia, together with
the Neue Nationalgalerie, the BMW Group hosts a joint event
celebrating their long-term partnership of the Preis
der Nationalgalerie, which will be awarded to Maurizio Cattelan
in 2026. Already in 2011, BMW teamed up with artist Hajnal Németh for
her “CRASH – Passive Interview” installation for the Hungarian
Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Curated by Başak Doğa Temür, “A Kiss on the
Eyes” showcases Güreş’s celebrated practice spanning sculpture,
installation, painting, and mixed-media works. The exhibition explores
themes of intimacy, resilience, and cultural identity through
textiles, everyday objects, and organic forms that carry personal and
collective histories. The pavilion is realised under the auspices of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye with the
contribution of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with
co-sponsorship from Trendyol Art and additional support from Turkish
Airlines and the SAHA Association.
Borusan Otomotiv’s first-time support of the Türkiye Pavilion
reflects the commitment of supporting projects that create lasting
value and contribute to important conversations. It coincides with the
artistic leadership of the late Koyo Kouoh at the Venice Biennale. A
long-term collaborator and friend of BMW Group Culture, Koyo Kouoh
also played a key role in initiating BMW’s engagement with the
Education Centre at Zeitz MOCAA.
“As Borusan Otomotiv, we consider this partnership a significant
milestone in our more than 40-year engagement with art,” stated
Hakan Tiftik, CEO of Borusan Otomotiv. “This
support represents a natural extension of Borusan Group’s
long-standing commitment to culture and the arts, as well as the
strong and authentic relationship that the BMW brand we represent in
Türkiye has established with the art world. We will continue to build
on this deeply rooted heritage, shaping our vision in culture and the
arts with a long-term and strategic perspective.”
Supporting contemporary art for two decades.
This dedication reflects both Borusan Group’s deeply rooted
cultural legacy and BMW’s authentic relationship with the global art
world. In 2025 alone, Borusan Otomotiv reinforced this commitment by
supporting Contemporary Istanbul, Türkiye’s leading international art
fair, and playing an important role in BMW’s 50th Art Car anniversary celebrations.
The company brought the BMW Art Car World Tour to Turkish audiences
through a series of distinct events, art fairs, festivals, and dealer
openings, showcasing iconic works by artists including
Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons
, and Julie Mehretu’s latest 2024 “rolling
sculpture”. By creating meaningful touchpoints between international
art movements and local audiences, Borusan Otomotiv continues to
strengthen Türkiye’s position as a vital hub in the global cultural landscape.
Borusan Holding has been at the heart of contemporary art for two
decades. Borusan Otomotiv, through the BMW brand, contributes to the
development of contemporary art through its partnership with
Contemporary Istanbul. Borusan Holding has also played a significant
role in Türkiye’s cultural and artistic landscape by supporting the
Istanbul Music Festival (IMF), organized by the Istanbul Foundation
for Culture and Arts (İKSV), of which it is a founding member, since
the festival’s very first edition. Since 1977, Borusan Sanat has been
working towards making classical music more accessible to wider
audiences and continues its activities under the Borusan Kocabıyık
Foundation today. Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BIPO) was
founded 26 years ago in line with this vision. Borusan Contemporary,
on the other hand, continues to foster dialogue between artists and
audiences through its unique office-museum concept, presenting the
works of internationally renowned artists such as Bill Viola, Doug
Aitken, Axel Hütte, and Edward Burtynsky at the historic Perili Köşk.
Borusan Contemporary also develops exhibitions and public programmes
centred on the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection. In addition to
being a member of ICOM, the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection is the
first collection in Türkiye to join IACCCA (International Association
of Corporate Collections of Contemporary Art).
BMW Group’s cultural engagement is guided by a clear strategic focus
on contemporary art, design, sound, film, classical music, and jazz.
The company views its cultural activities as an expression of
corporate citizenship and a meaningful way of giving back to the
societies in which it operates. Through a broad network of
partnerships and sponsorships across artistic disciplines and
international markets, BMW has become one of the leading supporters of
arts and culture worldwide, including initiatives such as the BMW Art
Journey, the Berlin Biennale, and Art Basel.
About the Türkiye Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia.
The Venice Biennale represents one of the world’s most
prestigious platforms for contemporary art. İKSV has been coordinating
the Türkiye Pavilion since 2007, and since 2014, the Pavilion has had
a permanent venue at the Sale d’Armi, Arsenale. As the commissioner of
the Pavilion, İKSV brings together institutional and individual
support each year to provide the necessary resources for invited
artists and architects to develop their works under the best possible conditions.
About the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV).
The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) is a
non-profit organisation advancing culture through festivals,
biennials, international collaborations, education programmes, artist
funds and awards, and cultural policy initiatives since 1973.
Further information at: Türkiye Pavilion
The BMW Group’s Cultural Engagement, with exclusive updates and
deeper insights into its global initiatives can be followed on
Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.