Turkish business magnate Omer Koc demonstrates solidarity with Palestinians

The Chairman of one of Türkiye's biggest holding companies on Wednesday showed solidarity and support for the Palestinians, who have been under Israel's brutal assaults for almost two years.

"My heart is with the long-suffering people of Gaza. My prayers and thoughts are with them. I cannot comprehend how some people continue to support and justify this horrific genocide. But truth and justice will ultimately prevail," said Koc Holding's chairman, Omer M. Koc at the official opening of the 18th Istanbul Biennial.

The official opening of the event, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) with the support of Koc Holding, was held at the Rahmi M. Koc Museum.

IKSV's chairman of the board, Bulent Eczacibasi, Koc Holding Chairman Omer M. Koc, and Istanbul Biennial director Kevser Guler, along with many prominent figures from the art and business world, attended the ceremony, according to a statement shared by IKSV’s statement.

“For 38 years, the Istanbul Biennial has been shaping our city’s cultural and artistic life. It nourishes Istanbul’s art scene. By presenting to audiences in Istanbul the works of artists from all around the world, who delicately address contemporary issues, it serves as a platform for generating new ideas and establishing new dialogues," Eczacibasi said.

"Our biennial, titled Three-Legged Cat, with this new format and the academic program we are developing with our curator, is already set to mark a new era in the history of the biennial. I would like to extend our special thanks to our curator Christine Tohme, whose unique vision and dedicated work brought this biennial to life.

"My heartfelt thanks also go to all participating artists, our colleagues who contributed, Koc Holding for its long-standing support as biennial sponsor, the venues that opened their doors to us free of charge, all our sponsors and supporters, and all stakeholders who contributed to our growth with their suggestions, critiques, and evaluations. Finally, we are grateful to you, our valued friends, for being part of this great gathering," he added.

At the ceremony, a plaque of appreciation was presented to Koc Holding, the biennial’s sponsor between 2007 and 2036.

Receiving the plaque on behalf of Koc Holding, chairman Omer M. Koc said: “Since 2007, we have continued our support for the Istanbul Biennial. We regard this long-term collaboration, which will last until 2036, not merely as a sponsorship but as a companionship in a shared vision and common ideal.

"Through this valuable bond with IKSV, I believe we have taken significant steps toward making contemporary art accessible to everyone and creating space for freedom of expression. At a time when the number of pressing global issues is growing at an alarming pace, I believe we need art and its transformative power more than ever. This year’s conceptual framework, Three-Legged Cat, focuses precisely on resilience—an ability to survive and protect oneself in the face of difficult circumstances."

- Biennial finds meaning as it is visited, debated, and shared

“Spread across three phases between 2025 and 2027, the works in the 2025 exhibition present various dimensions of defending life, developing strategies of resistance, and taking responsibility for protecting and caring for one another in the context of urgent artistic, political, and social issues," said Guler, director of the contemporary art event.

"With its exhibition and public program, the 18th Istanbul Biennial also highlights the necessity of discussing infrastructures that profoundly shape the present and future of the cultural and artistic ecosystem. The biennial finds its meaning as it is visited, debated, and shared," she added.

The first phase of the three-year biennial, Three-Legged Cat, following preview days for media and professionals until Sept. 19, will open to the public free of charge from Sept. 20 to Nov. 23, across eight different venues in the Beyoglu-Karakoy district.