The Conceptual Framework of the 7th Mardin Biennial Announced: “SKYground”

The conceptual framework of the new edition of the Mardin Biennial, which holds a significant place in the international contemporary art scene, has been announced.

Organized under the directorship of Do¨ne Otyam and Hakan Irmak, hosted by the Mardin Cinema Association, curated by C¸elenk Bafra, and held under the main sponsorship of PEUGEOT, the 7th edition of the Mardin Biennial will meet art audiences between 15 May and 21 June 2026.

The title of the 7th Mardin Biennial has been determined as “SKYground.”

The conceptual framework of the Mardin Biennial makes visible, within the context of Mardin, the relationships that contemporary art establishes between reality and imagination, the material and the spiritual, the political and the poetic. Constructing a line of thought and emotion between sky and earth, the individual and the collective, the past and the future, the biennial invites viewers on a multilayered journey along seemingly opposing poles. By bringing together the horizon divided into “sky” and “ground,” the 7th Mardin Biennial opens a silent passage between worlds that are thought to be distant from one another.

Inviting the audience to a multilayered experience that extends both upward and inward, the biennial is guided by birds that hold a special place in the cultural memory of the region. These birds, carrying stories embedded in the stones of Mardin and shaped by the winds unique to its geography, glide between sky and earth, tracing routes among exhibitions, site-specific installations, and performances across different points of the city.

The conceptual compass of the biennial points to two literary works from the west and east of Tu¨rkiye that may initially appear contradictory: Aristophanes’ comedy The Birds and Farid ud-Din Attar’s masnavi known as The Conference of the Birds (Mantıku’t-Tayr). In both texts, birds are addressed not merely as part of nature, but as symbols of quest, criticism, resistance, and transformation.

For the first time in its history since its inception in 2010, the Mardin Biennial will, with this edition, expand beyond the boundaries of the old city. Through exhibitions held in Dara Ancient City, Deyrulzafaran Monastery, and Kızıltepe, it invites audiences to explore the diverse geographical and cultural layers of the region.

Viewing art as a universal value that nurtures thought and strengthens social bonds, PEUGEOT has long been contributing to the arts through artists and projects from various disciplines. In line with this approach, the brand’s support of the 7th Mardin Biennial as its main sponsor represents a contemporary reflection of its long-standing commitment to art.