Support for Birhan Keskin's criticism from Çapa, response from Say

The entrance fee set for the Contemporary Istanbul exhibition has caused a heated debate on social media between entrepreneur İzzet Çapa and pianist Fazıl Say.

The flooding that occurred at the fairgrounds of Contemporary Istanbul, which met with art lovers at Tersane Istanbul last year, put numerous works of art at risk, and the exhibition has become a subject of debate on social media this year as well due to its ticket prices. 

Poet and author Birhan Keskin, in a post on her social media account, reacted to the ticket prices by stating, "Contemporary Istanbul entrance fee is 1250. Student entrance is 850. Art cannot be snobbish. (So your art is only for the rich.)", and this post received support from entrepreneur İzzet Çapa. 

'CAN AN EXHIBITION COST THIS MUCH, MY FRIEND'

Quoting Birhan Keskin's post, entrepreneur İzzet Çapa supported Keskin with the words, "Birhan Keskin... I am a fan of your poems... 'Don't poke the pomegranate inside me, I have a white shirt on... How can an emotion be expressed more naively, more refined, and more striking... Anyway, that's not the point.... If Birhan is reacting to the prices like this.... Let me add a reaction of my own to her idea, however small it may be.... Let her voice be heard more.... Can an exhibition cost this much, my friend..."

Fazıl Say, who joined the exhibition debate on social media, reacted to the criticisms that the exhibition tickets were expensive. In his response to İzzet Çapa's post, Say used the following expressions:

"I'll skip Contemporary, but how much does one person spend in a night at your place, Cahide, Mr. İzzet? 5 thousand per person? 10 thousand? Answer? They listen to 3 arabesque, 5 pop, 5 rap songs at a decibel that deafens their ears, and what do they gain culturally from this? Contemporary and other culture and art events... Yes, I wish they were cheaper, I wish... Do you know the expenses? The rents? The cost of the labor of dozens, hundreds of laborers working? The technical expenses? The point that culture and art have reached is the point of death. These are their last breaths... Birhan Keskin is a very valuable poet, but if you buy 4 thin books of hers to meet this valuable poet, unfortunately, it comes to this figure again... I couldn't figure it out either? You explain? From America?"

'LET SOME BLOOD GO TO YOUR BRAIN'

Responding to Say's post with harsh expressions, Çapa said:

"Fazıl has responded to my post.... What he says stands under my comment on Birhan Keskin's post criticizing the exorbitant prices at Contemporary... Come on Fazıl, comparing Cahide with the Contemporary Exhibition... What kind of logic is that, my brother... One is a luxury entertainment consumed by those who have money, the other is an art exhibition that is essential, especially for young people.... Also, don't come to me with Cahide from now on because I transferred the venue months ago, my brother... If you are putting these two things in the same category and criticizing me, God knows how we will explain the truth to those who haven't been trained in this business... It's clear you like to pick a fight with me... I have no answer for a mind that compares Turkey's most luxurious entertainment venue, Cahide, with an art exhibition... Go on, get lost, Fazıl... Go out and walk in the open air so some blood goes to your brain... You even tried to express the value of a book by its thickness... Fazıl, you have truly lost your mind... I am referring you to Birhan..."

News Source: 12punto