1. “Ieis Ten Polin” Exhibition, Sıla Güven, 10 february and 28 February 2011, TİEM- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

2. eis ten polin / going to the city Istanbul is amongst the unique metropolitan cities, built over its historic structure, geographical location, values of each civilization created in this geography, residents, visitors and its new history unfolded by the most recent excavations. At the entrance of each side reads “Welcome to the European Slide” or “Welcome to the Anatolian Side”. The see/sea divides the city inti two with a long bay creating new and calmest shores like a horn. The sunrise and the sunset can be witnessed from many locations. Seagulls are fed with Turkish simits while going to work or home. Numberless sea vehicles experience the soul of the sea, from transatlantic ship through scows/skiffs, from excursion ship to small boats. Sirens of ship come together with the cries of tallymen; melodies of open-air concerts penetrate in car beepings, creating a feeling of unity. Which city embraces four seasons at the same time? Which one embraces the 24 hour non-sleeping life? Which city harbors so many historical centers? In which city do the scents of linden trees blend with the purples of Judeas trees? The most ancient noted name of Istanbul is Byzantion. The suffix “ion” derives back to the 3rd century B.C and is associated with the place names in ancient Phrygian and Anatolian languages. Greek colonists also used exactly this name. According to different source, the name “Byzantion” was named after Byzas, the king of Greek colonists who founded the city. In the early years of the 3rd century, “Antoniua” was also used as a dedication to the emperor Antonius Caracalla. When the city was re-founded by Constantinos, the 1st, in 330 A.C, towards the last years of the Roman Empire, the citywas named "Duetera Roma" meaning "the second Rome", "Nea Roma" meaning "the new Rome" and then "Constantinapolis" due to the founder's name. Various names were later granted to the city such as "The City of Emperor", "Megali Polis / Big City" and "Kalipolis / Good City". The roots of the name " Istanbul" are yet to be clarifed. However, there are assumptions that the term "eis ten polin" was used meaning "travelling to the city / to go downtown", based on the word "polis", equivalent of "city / downtown" in Byzantine perriod. The city was called with many names such as "Der-i Devlet" (The door of the state), "Asistane El-Farruk", "Belde-i Tayyibe" (Region of Beauty). Later the name "Konstantiniyye" and then "Islambol" were adopted, leaving their places to "Istanbul" in time. In history, residents settled in Kadıköt (Chalcedon) on the Anatolian Side and in Sarayburnu (City of the Blind) on the European Side, enabling the transport between both sides and from other cities to Istanbul. The abundance of visitors invigorates the historical peninsula, where the Museum for Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, which will hold our exhibition "eis ten polin / travelling tı the city to go downtown", is located. Just like the ancient "eis ten polin" was used by those, who travelled from the Anatolian to the European Side, namely to the historical peninsula. We named our exhibition with one of the names given to Istanbul throughout history. Now that Istanbul is the culture and art capital of 2010, ourmotivation as the Istasyon Fine Art Academy derived from the idea to organize an open exhibition dedicated to the city we reside in, to its fabric, its regions, its history, our memories, the times and the events in it, briefly an exhibition of many situations and sensitivity of the city. Relying on theis lives, memories and sensitivity, artists, who contributed to the exhibition, produced art works that reveal their personal ties with the above-mentioned characteristics of the city. They have dug into the secret open treasure of the city we live in from the depht of our memories and the eternity of our perception. Each one has a share in this treasure. I would like to express my gratitude to the artists, who contributed to the exhibition, and to present my respects to everyone. Hülya Düzenli

3. “Stadtplan” Sıla Güven, 28 January 2011, Acrylic on canvas, 150×55cm, TİEM- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

4. “Pera Palace” Sıla Güven, 28 January 2011, Acrylic on canvas, 150×55cm, TİEM- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

5. “İş Bank” Sıla Güven, 28 January 2011, Acrylic on canvas, 150×55cm, TİEM- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

6. “La carte d’Istanbul” Sıla Güven, 28 January 2011, Acrylic on canvas, 150×55cm, TİEM- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey