Art as resistance againts forms of power after 1980

This study aims to cover Turkey's political, cultural and artistic development post 1980 and to examine the link between the forms of power with art and the artist in a period of 40 years. In the first section, the art scene in Turkey after 12th September 1980 is examined. The connection between politics, society and art is defined in conjunction with examining the effects of newly established liberal system after the cold war and the military coup of 1980 on the Turkish art scene. The International Istanbul Bienal and the International Asian-European Art Bienal, which began in the late 1980s, led to the recognition of contemporary Turkish art in the international arena. In the second section, 90's most hotly debated issues in Turkey that are identity, migration, feminism and independent artists' initiatives are examined along with the productions of artists who questioned these issues. In the third section, takeover of a conservative power in Turkey and It's effects on culture and art are examined, as well as the humorous and ironic art examples which arose in the Gezi Park movement. The cultural and political policies of the period between 2002-2019 are also studied. In the conclusion, resistance with art processes post-1980 against the government in power are analyzed.