A graduate of the Hacettepe University with a degree in philosophy, Hüseyin Bahri Alptekin completed his Postgraduate studies in Philosophy of Art at the Paris Sorbonne University. He then worked at Sipa-Press photojournalism agency in Paris.
In addition to teaching posts at the Ankara Bilkent and İstanbul Bilgi universities, Alptekin was appointed as the Coordinator of Exhibitions and Cultural Activities at the Habitat II-City Summit organized in İstanbul. Alptekin has covered a wide range of topics like design, architecture, philosophy, music, celebrity culture and gastronomy in his writings. Organizing many exhibitions in Turkey and abroad, Alptekin directed one of the first artist collectives and resident programs in Turkey.
A participant of numerous exhibitions and symposia, some of Alptekin’s best works have been included in the collections of museums across Europe. The artist has worked in countries like Finland, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Australia and India upon official invitations. In addition to important exhibitions organized in Europe and the USA, Alptekin has participated in the biennials of İstanbul, Sao Paulo, Tirana, Montenegro, Iasi, Manifesta Europe (San Sebastian), Seville and the Balkan exhibitions organized in Austria, Germany and Italy. Hüseyin Bahri Alptekin has been awarded with the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of Contemporary Art in Europe.
The artist is currently working on an exhibition to be held at the London Tate Modern in June 2007 under the title “Global Cities” and a project he is planning to realize in Mongolia.
Currently living in İstanbul, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Europe, Hüseyin Alptekin has produced the majority of his work for the 52nd edition of the Venice Biennale in Finland.
The founding director of the Proje4L-İstanbul Museum of Contemporary Art Museum (2001-2003) and the Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, Vasıf Kortun has been the chief curator and the director of the 3rd İstanbul Biennial in 1992 and the founding director of the Center for Curatorial Studies Museum in the USA between 1994 and 1997.
The co-author of Jahresring 51: Szene Türkei: Abseits aber Tor (with Erden Kosova) published in 2004, Kortun’s writings and interviews has appeared in numerous books, journals and exhibition catalogues.
Serving as a jury member in numerous exhibitions including the 5th Gwangju Biennial (2004) and the 50th Venice Biennial (2003), Vasıf Kortun was the co-curator of the 9th International İstanbul Biennial with Charles Esche in 2005.
Kortun received the 9th Annual Award for Curatorial Excellence given by the Center for Curatorial Studies in 2006.
Appointed as the collection advisor of the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Vasıf Kortun is also a member of the Collections Advisory Council at the New Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.