Despite being home to some of the most prominent writers, musicians and artists in Turkey, the capital city of Ankara has never been seen as Turkey’s capital of culture. Traditionally, most artists have headed to Istanbul.

There are, however, those who head to Ankara.  Being the capital city, it is never short of artistic and cultural activities. The work of local artists continues to be exhibited in major galleries in the city, and international cultural institutions like the Goethe Institute and the British Council showcase international projects, bringing international artists to the city. 

Until recently, Ankara lacked an all-encompassing centre for arts and culture, such as Istanbul’s Istanbul Modern or Santral Istanbul. However, for over a year now, Cer Modern has provided a fitting tribute to Ankara, a city that has always valued the arts and artists. The contemporary arts compound, established with the support of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), is a vast space for artistic and cultural events and exhibitions.

Sara Adıbelli, Cer Modern’s Media and Communications Coordinator for Artistic Events, calls it, “a living space for an all-inclusive experience of art, and a centre for culture, education and the continuous production of projects.”

The word cer refers to the old train wagon placed at the entrance to the centre, and the maintenance and repair facility for train wagons and engines which used to occupy the space. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism restored the building, transforming it into contemporary art museum.

There is a wide range of artistic spaces at Cer Modern, including exhibition and photography galleries, artists’ studios and a sculpture park. The main exhibition hall is characterised by a contemporary, minimalist look designed to preserve the old look with the original columns intact and the ceiling exposed.

A journey of two decades

The main exhibition hall is currently home to a series of photographs inspired by late 50s’ and early 60s’ America by the renowned Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf. Storytelling is an integral part of Olaf’s photography, and the space allows visitors to capture the connections and the relations between the photographs.

“Captured Senses” is Erwin Olaf’s first exhibition in Turkey,” says Adıbelli. “It will be on display throughout the summer, the ideal time to make use of the various activities and events taking place.” What would a typical summer day be like in Cer Modern? “Last summer, we had jazz concerts and open-air film screenings you could enjoy with your drinks. You could, for instance, come here and enjoy a variety of exhibitions such as the work of young Spanish designers or paintings by the Turkish artist Jale Çelik.

How did the idea of transforming the repair facilities of the railways into a contemporary arts centre come about? “It actually goes back to early 1990s when the State Artist, Professor Turan Erol suggested to the then president Süleyman Demirel that there was a need for a contemporary art museum in Ankara.  Professor Erol’s efforts never faltered, and eventually Cer Modern came to life with the help of the current Minister of Culture Ertuğrul Günay,” says Adıbelli.
 
Since its  first exhibition, +Infinite, which sought to understand art history through the eyes of art collector Ebru Özdemir, was coupled with a collection of installations and artworks by young contemporary artists, Cer Modern’s reputation as a progressive, exciting centre for arts and culture was cemented. With the number of local art enthusiasts increasing, the excitement surrounding Cer Modern continues to spread.