Hosted by the Mardin Cinema Association and directed by Döne Otyam and Hakan Irmak, the Mardin Biennial celebrates its 15th anniversary with the support of the private sector and art institutions. The 7th edition of the Mardin Biennial, which holds a significant place in the international contemporary art scene, will welcome art enthusiasts in May 2026.The curator of the 7th Mardin Biennial will be Çelenk Bafra, an esteemed figure who has worked with museums and art institutions across Turkey and Europe. She is currently the Artistic Director of Istanbul Modern. The Biennial’s Advisory Board includes prominent figures from the art and academic world: Esra Aliçavusoglu, Firat Arapoglu, Mehmet Said Aydin, Evin Sevgi Baran, and Paolo Colombo.

Shaping her curatorial practice around production and research-driven group exhibitions, Çelenk Bafra played a crucial role in facilitating the participation of Turkish artists in prestigious international events such as the Venice Biennale, Athens Biennale, Havana Biennial, Lyon Biennale, and São Paulo Biennial during her tenure as director of the Istanbul Biennial. Throughout her work at IKSV and SAHA, she developed support programs for artists and curators, founded and directed SAHA Studio and the Turkey Atelier at Paris Cité des Arts. She has also served on the boards of the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM) in Marseille—where she was invited by the French Ministry of Culture—and AICA Turkey.

Çelenk Bafra’s connection with Mardin dates back to 2005, when she conducted a research trip with the curators and artists of the Istanbul Biennial. Her engagement with the city has deepened over the years through projects such as the Günes Sinemasi, a collaboration with the Mardin Cinema Association, and her involvement in various editions of the Mardin Biennial. She has written critical essays and conducted interviews on the Biennial, which have been published in Açik Radyo, as well as various books and journals.