Oya Eczacibasi, Chair of the Board at Turkey's first modern art museum Istanbul Modern, says, "With its exhibition halls, cafe, movie theater and library this is a living, dynamic museum that interacts with the public."  It was needed, and now it has come about. With the participation of numerous institutions, artists, statesmen and collectors, Istanbul's and Turkey's first museum of modern art has opened. The Chair of Istanbul Modern's Board of Directors, Oya Eczacibasi, says that they aim to change the static approach to museology and to make the institution a living art center while doing all that is required from a museological point of view. Having concluded agreements with international culture and art organizations as well as world-famous museums, Istanbul Modern aims to project not only the rich historical legacy of Turkey and the Turkish people, but also their contemporary and modern aspect, both to the Turkish society and to an international public with its art lovers

The idea of founding Istanbul Modern goes back many years. Would you tell us about this arduous process?
In 1987 during the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation's 1st International Istanbul Biennial, my father-in-law Nejat Eczacibasi mentioned that he wanted to found a museum of modern art. So the search for a place got underway. We settled on the old fez factory and undertook its restoration, but certain problems arose and we gave up on that site. But during this time the museum collection was expanded, and I studied museology in London. Two years ago when we held the 8th Biennial in the entrepôt we decided to try our luck again, and this time we succeeded. We have received tremendous support from the present government and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The deputy from Istanbul Egemen Bagis has also contributed greatly.