Biennials of Sinop, Çanakkale, and Mardin in the context of biennalization

Since 1987, Turkey became an important figure in the international art scene due to the organization of the Istanbul Biennale. Other cities like Sinop, Çanakkale, and Mardin also organized their own biennials, however, there is a lack of studies conducted concerning those biennials. This study aims to present a useful source of information about the biennials of Sinop, Çanakkale, and Mardin while discussing them in the larger context of biennalization. To accomplish this goal, a series of interviews were made with the founders and organizers of those biennials. In the light of these interviews, it is evident that the biennials of Sinop, Çanakkale, and Mardin form a more efficient relationship with their locality and they may be considered as qualitatively more successful examples when compared with the large-scale biennials like the Istanbul Biennale. Furthermore, this discussion also stresses the need for questioning the dichotomy between "central" and "peripheral" biennials while presenting the need for a new understanding.