Documenting the Arts in Turkey: The Turkish Plastic Arts Archive at the Bilkent University Library

Turkey's geographical location represents a synthesis of East and West as it lies both in Asia and Europe. The rich history of Turkey has resulted from one of the most diverse cross sections of several civilizations; this history is reflected in the arts of the country. Turkey and especially Istanbul have experienced the burgeoning of numerous artistic expressions. New art galleries have opened their doors, and art auctions and international art exhibitions are organized regularly. Invitation cards, posters, catalogs, and similar items are routinely printed in conjunction with each cultural and artistic activity. The collection, classification, and the indexing of these documents assume a great importance for chronicling the culture, and the Bilkent University Library accepted the responsibility for this important project. This article is a profile of the Turkish Plastic Arts Archive which has been housed within the Bilkent Art Library since 1990. For the purpose of this article, the expression "plastic arts" refers to painting, sculpture, ceramics, prints, graphic arts, installations, and video arts.