Paris hosts Istanbul Digital Art Festival preview event

A preview of the Istanbul Digital Art Festival (IDAF) was held in Paris on Thursday, showcasing artificial intelligence-powered works, including a piece developed using archival images from Anadolu.

The event took place at the Cultural Center of Paris' Azerbaijani Embassy, marking the first time the venue has hosted a digital art exhibit.

The fifth edition of the Istanbul Digital Art Festival is set for June at the Ataturk Cultural Center in the Turkish metropolis. This year's theme is “Connecting.”

The Paris preview drew about 200 attendees, including Türkiye's Ambassador to France Yunus Demirer and Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva, as well as Turkish and French officials, artists, and art enthusiasts.

A highlight of the event was a preview of Memory: Anadolu, an AI-generated artwork created by the Ouchhh art studio using millions of images from Anadolu's archive. The piece explores Türkiye's social, cultural, and political history through visual storytelling.

Azerbaijan's first AI artist, Shusha, also held a live solo exhibition during the event.

Wishing success to this year's festival, the Azerbaijani ambassador said the event celebrates the transformation of art by bringing together artists from around the world.

“The Istanbul Digital Art Festival is moving forward with confident steps in its fifth year towards becoming a global brand,” said Nabat Garakhanova, the festival director. “It is a great honor and joy for us that Türkiye's only international digital art festival is recognized around the world.”

The festival, organized by Mezo Digital with the support of Türkiye's Culture and Tourism Ministry, is sponsored by Turk Telekom and PASHA Bank with Anadolu as global communications partner.