For its 16th edition, the Istanbul Biennial prepares to host various talks, film screenings, concerts and food performances as a part of its admission-free public programme. Among the participants of the public programme to take the relation between the fields of art, ecology and anthropology as its focal point are prominent philosophers, scientists and artists who will present different approaches to these fields.

Discussion series titled “Exploring the Seventh Continent”, to be held on the opening and closing weeks of the Biennial on 14 September and 9 November 2019, aims to initiate dialogue between the anthropological approach and artistic point of view by bringing together philosophers and biennial artists. Among the distinguished participants of the discussion series are; Assoc. Prof. Dr Ayfer Bartu Candan, known for her work on urban anthropology; Assoc. Prof. Dr Emanuele Coccia with his research on eco-politics, introducing the vegetal sphere into philosophy; Assoc. Prof. Dr Jennifer Deger who works on the axis of anthropology, art, digital culture and experimental ethnography; the anthropologist-author Jeremy Narby specialising on relation between shamanism and molecular biology; Prof. Dr Elizabeth Povinelli with her critical approach to late liberalism; Assoc. Prof. Dr Tobias Rees, known for his engagement with various organisms such as the brain, microbes, snails and artificial intelligence, pleading for a "post-ethnic" approach of anthropology; and Prof. Dr Laurent de Sutter who criticises the normative mind through his publications.

Another public programme to be held is the seventh month-long “Digestion Programme” designed by birbuçuk (Ecology and Art Collective) consisting of climate change-energy economist and performance artist Ayşe Ceren Sarı, ecologist and artist Serkan Kaptan and curator Yasemin Ülgen. Digestion Programme is a continuation of the “Respiration” meetings organised by birbuçuk in 2017. The programme will begin with workshops with invited participants through May-June and proceed with public events to be held at Tersane Istanbul through September-November. Seemingly ordinary objects we are accustomed to as part of our daily lives will be brought up for discussion and examination during the programme. Placing the concept of socio-ecological metabolism at the centre, phenomenon such as water, agriculture, climate, energy, city, waste, gender, commons and future will be explored in relation to science, social movements, art practices as well as possible dialogue opportunities among these practices.

As a part of the programme, artist talks and events will take place in varying settings at Büyükada and different venues. Details of the programme are to be announced later.

Viewing the Seventh Continent through Cinema

A film programme will be held in collaboration with the Pera Museum as a part of the public programme. The programme Pera Film will be presenting between 20 September and 10 October will include productions revolving around the issues of the transformation of the earth, transitions civilizations went through the ages and human beings’ effects on the universe. The programme invites the viewer to see the history of cinema from the Seventh Continent’s vantage point with its selection that includes first examples of the genre, cult movies based on disaster scenarios and documentaries that masterfully reveal reality.