amberPlatform / BIS

amberPlatform and other “amber” projects initiated and run by BIS

BIS – Body Process Arts Association

BIS is an Istanbul based initiative that aims to explore artistic forms of expression at the conjunction of the body and the digital process. It was founded in 2007 as an association by a team of researchers and artists from disciplines such as dance, performance, design, social sciences and engineering. The founders of amber came together in order to create a local discussion and production platform on art and technology in a globalized World itself transformed by new technologies.

BIS defines its area of interest through the wording of its subtitle. The concept of body-process refers to the inevitable relation between the modern human body and technological processes and tools. Starting from the observation that new technologies increasingly manage practical and critical aspects of our lives such as communication, health and security, this concept orients itself to think about the fluid boundaries between body and technology and the consequences of their interaction. The concept of body-process arts envisages artistic forms that explore, think, embody and question this complex and multifaceted relationship.

BIS’s objective is to establish a permanent center that will focus on the research, production and education in the field of body-process arts in Istanbul. Simultaneously, BIS seeks to create an international network of artists, researchers and technicians with whom it would continue to work and cooperate in a spirit of cooperation and exchange. It thus aims to participate in universal art from a local and regional perspective. BIS prioritizes new openings in the field of body-process arts that are brought on by cultural exchange and cooperation projects that also include artists and initiatives that are not part of the Global art circuits.

In 1000 chars:
BIS is an Istanbul based initiative that aims to explore artistic forms of expression at the conjunction of the body and the digital process. BIS aims to create an international discussion and production platform in its local on the conjunction of art and technology.

The concept of body-process refers to the inevitable relation between the modern
human body and technological processes and tools. Starting from the observation that new technologies increasingly manage practical and critical aspects of our lives such as communication, health and security, this concept orients itself to think about the fluid boundaries between body and technology and the consequences of their interaction.

BIS organizes "amber Art and Technology Festival and Conference" annually to create a platform for exchanges, collaborations and discussions, also directs international artistic research and creation projects. BIS's objective is to establish a permanent center for research and production. amberPlatform and other “amber” projects have been initiated and run by BİS.

The Team and Contacts

The Team:

executive committee:
Çiğdem Zeytin, Ekmel Ertan, Ece Kuray, Mehmet Erkök, Bager Akbay, Cansu Yalçıner

info@amberplatform.org

Legal Info:
Name : BODY PROCESS ARTS ASSOCIATION (BEDEN İŞLEMSEL SANATLAR DERNEĞİ)
Abbreviation : BIS
Legal Status : Association
Foundation Date : 15.02.2007
Registration number : 34-137/049
Tax number : 160 062 8972, Kadıköy V.D.
Address : Rasimpaşa Mahallesi İskele Sokak 47 34716 Kadıköy ISTANBUL
Telephone : +90 532 473 8971

Directors Board (by February 2022):
Çiğdem Zeytin, President, cigdem@amberplatform .org
Ekmel Ertan, Vice President, ekmel@amberplatform.org
Ece Kuray, Accountant
Bager Akbay
Cansu Yalçıner

Supervisors Board:
Burcu Güney
Eser Epözdemir
Nagehan Kuralı

Members:
Ekmel Ertan, Özlem Alkış, Nafiz Akşehirlioğlu, Pascal Lesport, Ayşe Orhon, Burak Arıkan, Sinan Bökesoy, Etkin Çiftçi, Burçkaan Gürgün, Mert Maviş, Hikmet Nakilcioğlu, Murat Germen, İsmail Kasarcı, Eda Kaban, Alişan Çırakoğlu, Ayşegül Dalgıç, Berrak Yedek Chantcau, Güneş Resul, Deniz Erk, Gizem Candemir, Bengi Turgan, Belkıs Işık, Ahmet Türkoğlu, Murat Durusoy, Merve Akar, Çiğdem Zeytin, Oya Çitçi, Bager Akbay, Muharrem Yıldırım, Nagehan Kuralı, Eser Epözdemir, Fatih Aydoğdu, Ece Kuray, Sedef Aydoğan, Ahmer Sertaç Öztürk, Selin Özçelik, Mine Yılmaz, Mehmet Erkök, Zeynep Gündüz, Osman Koç, Mehmet Mert Akbal, Merve Çaşkurlu Belgesay, Bahar Ahu Sagın, Burcu Güney, Emine Ak, Turgut Alper Kerpiçci, Nimet Cansu Yalçıner, Afra Naile Sönmez, Sezgi Sevilmiş, Züleyha Varzı

Founders:
Ekmel Ertan, Özlem Alkış, Nafiz Akşehirlioğlu, Ali Vahit Şahiner, Pascal Lesport, Ayşe Orhon, Burak Arıkan, Sinan Bökesoy

Projects and Resources

Ongoing Projects:

Project Title : trans-making: Art / Culture / Economy to Democratize Society. Research in Placemaking for Alternative Narratives
Description : The project trans-making aims to establish a multilateral network of research and innovation staff active in the fields of placemaking/place-based art activities as a space to create alternative narratives for social, economic and democratic renewal. It will investigate and experiment with placemaking to contribute actively to the democratization/well-being of society, educating and empowering individuals and disadvantaged minorities through research and production in the connection between art and new technologies.
Implementation Period : 2017-2020.
Partners : Relais Culture Europe (Coordinator), Bunker, Citema, Cluster Cairo, Crvena, Génériques, Institute of Criminology, Ljubljana Faculty of Law, Istanbul Technical University, Racines, El Taller TRES, University College of London - IGP, Izmir University of Economics, University of La Habana, University of Perugia, University of Valencia, Workshop of Culture, ZRC SAZU, BIS
BIS’s Role : Partner
Supported by : Horizon 2020 MSCA-RISE-2016 (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange)
Reference no : 734855
Supported amount : 1.858.500,00 Euro

Completed Projects:

Project Title : amber Art and Technology Platform
Description : Art and Technology Festival and Conference in İstanbul
Implementation Period : annually, in the second week of November between 2007-2015.
Partners : none
BIS’s Role : Founder and Producer
Supported by : İstanbul 2010 European Cultural Capital Agency in between 2008-2010
Reference no : 1006 (İstanbul 2010 ECCA)
Supported amount : 431.579 TL (184.000 Euros, by İstanbul 2010 ECCA for 3 years -2008,2009,2010- only )

Project Title : European Urban Media Network for Connecting Cities
Description : The aim of the project is to create a networked infrastructure of Urban
Media Facades to circulate artistic and social content throughout the whole of Europe. There exists already a multitude of Urban Screens1, Media Facades2 and Urban Media3 in the European public space, but the way they are used is problematic: On the one hand they are operated separately or only locally connected. On the other hand, they are used for almost purely commercial purposes. We want to open these Urban Media Facades as networked communication platforms to present cultural and social content and to create an intercultural exchange between the local scenes and communities.
Implementation Period : 2012-2016
Partners : Public Art Lab e.V. (DE, Project leader), Ars Electronica GmbH (AT), IMAL (BE), FACT (UK), m-cult (FI), Medialab Prado (SP), Media Architecture Institute (AT), Riga 2014 (LV), Videospread (FR), BIS (TR), The Museum of Contemporary art Zagrep (HR)
BIS’s Role : Project partner
Supported by : EU Culture Program 2007-2013
Reference no : 522689-CU-1-2012-1-DE-CULTURE-VOL11
Supported amount : 3.082.070 Euros

Project Title : Hybri-C: City is a Hybrid Interface
Description : A research and art project that focuses on the concept of city, which is transformed by new communication technologies and globalization. The project mainly aims at opening city data and creating an Open Data Portal.
Implementation Period : 2011-2012
Partners : CIANT (Chez Republic), FEARLESS (France), URIAC (Greece), BIS (Turkey)
BIS’s Role : Project Leader
Supported by : EU Culture Program 2007-2013
Reference no : 513761-CU-1-2011-1-TR-CULTURE-VOL121
Supported amount : 400.000 Euros

Project Title : TRIBE
Description : Transitory residency initiative of Balkan and East Europe (TRIBE) is an initiative of four organisations from East Europe and the Balkans with associated partners. The project is structured on four levels corresponding to its four main missions: (1) to foster a lasting and deep connection between cultural organisations in East Europe and the Balkans (2) to establish new AIR programs in the region and to improve existing ones (3) to conduct research on transitory art and produce new transitory
artworks (4) to promote and open a dialogue between new media and contemporary art organisations on a public inclusive level.
Implementation Period : 2012-2014
Partners : MoTA (Slovenia, Project leader), ARTOS (Cyprus), CIANT (Chez Republic), BIS (Turkey)
BIS’s Role : Project partner
Supported by : EU Culture Program 2007-2013
Reference no : 2012 – 1325 / 001 – 001 CU7 COOP7
Supported amount : 390.790 Euros

Project Title : New Media Arts from Turkey - TRNL-2012 (2012)
Description : An exhibition, workshops and seminars in Den Haag in The Netherlands to represent the current state of new media arts in Turkey and to develop the collaborations among the artists working in the new media field.
Implementation Period : 2012
Partners : BIS (TR), TodaysArt Festival (NL)
BIS’s Role : Project owner
Supported by : Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey; in the frame of 400-year celebration of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands.
Reference no : -
Supported amount : 80.720 Euros

Project Title : CHANCE
Description : To provide knowledge and tools to the artists and cultural operators in order to have them utilized the new communication technologies Implementation Period : 2010-2011
Partners : CIANT (Chez Republic), M2F (France), NuMedia (Germany), BIS (Turkey)
BIS’s Role : Partner
Supported by : EU Culture Program 2007-2013
Reference no : 2010-0785/001-001 CU7-COOP7
Supported amount : 30.000 Euros (Total budget: 400.000 Euros )

Project Title : Global Gateway
Description : To organize seminars, workshops, exhibitions to promote the new media and the usage of new technologies in art in Turkey.
Implementation Period : 2010-2011
Partners : CIANT (Chez Republic), BIS (Turkey), PERSONA (Romania), URIAC
(Greece), ARTOS (Cyprus)
BIS’s Role : Partner
Supported by : Civil Society Dialog – İstanbul 2010 EEC Grant Program
Reference no : TR 0803.03/100
Supported amount : 21.838,70 Euros (Total budget: 175.000 Euros )

Project Title : IMMEDIATE
Description : A multidisciplinary, international research and creation project on the usage of new technologies in the field of contemporary dance.
Implementation Period : 2007-2009
Partners : CIANT (Chez Republic), M2F (France), LMR (Germany), BIS (Turkey)
BIS’s Role : Partner
Supported by : EU Culture Program 2007-2013
Reference no : 2007-1110/001-001 CTU
Supported amount : 36.000 Euros (Total project budget: 368.000 Euros )

amberNetwork

In October 2008, in the frame of amberFestival, a new collaborative network has been founded by a group of artists and cultural operators, coming from Caucasian, Turkic, Middle Eastern and European countries.

We stated in 2008 text for initiaition that “amberNetwork is a new network in the region connecting independent organizations and people working and producing in the conjunction of art and technology. This project emerged from the lack of collaboration and cooperation among individuals (independent artists, researchers, art technicians, cultural managers) as well as organizations in the region.”

The initiation meeting held on 16th November 2008 in İstanbul with the participant artists and cultural managers from Turkey, Iran, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic, Armenia, Lebanon, France, Greece, and Belgium.

The founding members of amberNetwork are Abdo Nawar* (SHAMS, Beirut, Lebanon; RAMI Network), Amirali Ghasemi, Erfan Abdi, Shervin Afshar (Parking Gallery, Iran), Arpi Adamian*, Lucine Talaylan*, Angela Harutyunyan (Utopiana, Armenia), Claudine Dussollier* (ZINC-ECM, Marseille France), Ekmel Ertan*, Özlem Alkış*, Nafiz Akşehirlioğlu*, Deniz Erbaş* (BIS, Turkey); Kostas Moschos* (IEMA, Greece); Lika Dadiani (TRAM Foundation, Georgia), Mesut Arslan* (0032, Belgium),Ricardo Mbarkho (Lebanon), Samar Martha* (Art School Palestine, Palestine), Shaarbek Amankul* (Б’Art Contemporary: Bishkek Art Center, Kyrgyz Republic)
* who attended the initiation meeting in 16th of November 2008

In the past 10 years, after several collaborations, events, meetings, and residencies amberNetwork gradually faded out due to the lost interest through several difficulties in member countries, the lack of financial support as well as transformations in the digital technologies and conception of the arts and technology relations. In 2019 we are working on reactivating amberNetwork which is still a valid need.