A layover at Istanbul Airport just got a little more tolerable if you’re flying Turkish Airlines. Earlier this spring, the carrier unveiled a gallery space inside its new Softroom–designed business lounge at Istanbul Airport where The Istanbul Modern will put on contemporary art exhibitions. On display now are 38 works by 16 artists that bridge western and eastern traditions—meaning the mini-museum isn’t just a synthesis of transit and cultural spaces, but of artistic heritages as well. Spanning the 1950s to today, the featured pieces come from local creators such as Selim Turan, Hakkı Anlı, Adnan Çoker, and more.
Says Oya Eczacıbaşı, chair of the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, “In addition to raising international awareness of the great variety of modern and contemporary art in Turkey, we hope to contribute to the pleasurable experience of passengers waiting in the lounge.” She went on to add that new works will rotate in to the space every three months, allowing travelers to view different themes, artists, and eras from the history of Turkish arts.
The high-tech Istanbul Airport soft launched this past year with a design by Haptic Architects, Grimshaw Architects, and Nordic Office of Architecture that is notable for its soaring vaunted ceilings pierced with illuminating skylights. When it is fully completed later this year it will be the largest airport in the world.