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The heritage of Troy is being brought into dialogue with the contemporary art world at the 2nd Malta Biennale, where the Troy Pavilion, organized by the Canakkale Biennial Initiative (CABININ), has opened as part of the event’s official program.
Curated by Deniz Erbas, the exhibition introduces international visitors to the multilayered cultural legacy of Troy while linking it with contemporary artistic practices across the Mediterranean.
The pavilion opened in the historic Old Armoury building in Birgu, a city known for its heritage architecture in Malta. Through this setting, the exhibition brings together the ancient story of Troy with the modern artistic landscape of the Mediterranean.
The opening ceremony drew the participation of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Valletta Barkin Kayaoglu and Heritage Malta Board Chairman Mario Cutajar, highlighting the diplomatic and cultural significance of the project.
During the event, Ambassador Kayaoglu described the initiative as more than an art exhibition. He said the project represents a gesture of cultural dialogue within the Mediterranean’s shared contemporary art environment, underlining its role in fostering connections across the region.
Curator Deniz Erbas emphasized the conceptual link between the Malta Biennale and the Canakkale Biennial. Both initiatives, he noted, have been working for nearly two decades to bring the rich cultural, social, and natural heritage of their cities into the international contemporary art scene.
Erbas said the Canakkale Biennial continues to position the city as an important cultural hub in the Mediterranean basin by connecting local heritage with global artistic dialogue.
The exhibition presents Troy not only as an ancient archaeological site but also as a meeting point between mythology and modern artistic interpretation.
Works by David Blandy, Georgios Katsagelos, Jakob Gautel, Katrin Korfmann, Jens Pfeifer, Pinar Yolacan, and Seyhan Boztepe are included in the show. Through video, photography, and installation art, the artists draw connections between the ancient narratives associated with Troy and the realities of the contemporary world.
The exhibition was organized with the support of the Gokhan Gundogdu Museum and Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi and carried out in cooperation with the Canakkale Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Faculty of Fine Arts at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, and the Troy Excavations team.
Academic guidance for the project was provided by Professor Rustem Aslan, head of the Troy Excavations, and Professor Didem Catal, who served as project advisors.
The Troy Pavilion will remain open to visitors in Malta until May 29, after which the program will conclude with a talk by Professor Rustem Aslan focusing on Troy.
Following its presentation in Malta, the exhibition will reopen in Adana at the Gokhan Gundogdu Museum, where additional artists are expected to join the project and further expand its exploration of Troy’s enduring legacy.
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