Kamen Stoyanov
I like this city very much. The apartment is at a very central location in a narrow street in the Cihangir neighbourhood. It is very tranquil so that you can recover from hectic city life. A good view would be desirable. Unfortunately, you can just look at the opposite building as the streets are very narrow indeed.
What I like best is to stroll down the hill and then turn right to Karaköy and on to the Galata Bridge. There are many fishermen and various restaurants, pubs and cafes there. It’s all very vibrant and picturesque, and the waters of the Bosporus are calming.
People are very nice and helpful everywhere in Istanbul. Unfortunately only a few speak English, but you can make do even without a common language. It’s very easy to make contacts and acquaintances. The three months passed much too quickly. At least four months would be appropriate for such a big city.
Local artists are very happy to get in touch and exchange ideas with colleagues from abroad. This is particularly noticeable now because of the difficult political situation in Turkey at present.
| 1. | Dos & dont's in this place: |
| You can do almost anything here, especially if you ask and check things out beforehand. People are very flexible and understanding. | |
| 2. | Where you can buy great supplies: |
| I mainly find my materials in the street – I am inspired by people I meet and the places I discover. Otherwise, you can buy classic materials at the “Color Box - art material store” in Sisli. |
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| 3. | On art at my residency location: |
| The Istanbul Modern is nearby and always has good exhibitions. You can see not only international artists but also discover Turkish artists. I can also recommend the REM Art Space that is located in Cihangir as well as the Alt Art Space bomontiada in Sisli that has a good exhibition and performance programme. During my stay, something was on every week. |
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| 4. | Around the studio – this is where I go shopping, drink a coffee and get the best lunch specials within walking distance: |
| I buy fruits and vegetables at the numerous shops that you can find in every street, depending on the way I take to the studio. I get the rest from the CarrefourSA Gurme at Siraselviler Cd. No. 180, around 7 minutes from the apartment. It has a very wide range, including a high number of foreign and organic products. I usually have soup or small precooked dishes, such as beans or chickpeas, from Turkish shops. Some of them are located in the Tophane neighbourhood, but you find them all over the city and their food is almost always very good. |
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| 5. | Where I like to spend the evening (dinner, drinks and best sound): |
| At the Urban Cafe at Galatasaray Kartal sok. No. 6/A: pleasant atmosphere for meeting and talking with friends; though it also has small dishes, it rather is a place where you have a drink. | |
| 6. | What I would have liked to know about the studio already at the start of my residency: |
| Driving a car is a special experience, which I knew before. However, what I did not know is that you simply park your car in the street if you find a place, of course. The Turks are very inventive in this respect. At any rate, you should put a note with your phone number in a visible place. Car parks are available everywhere, but they are very expensive, also by European standards. |
Website resident: kamenstoyanov.com