Hakan Topal

Hakan Topal is an artist living and working in Brooklyn, New York. He was the co-founder with Guven Incirlioglu of xurban collective (2000–12), and is known for his research-based conceptual art practice. He is an Associate Professor of New Media and Art+Design at Purchase College, SUNY.

Education
Hakan Topal attended Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, where he also grew up. Trained as a civil engineer, during his studies Topal became an active member of the university's activist networks and visual arts community, where he realized exhibitions and performances. He received an M.S. degree from the Gender and Women’s Studies graduate program at METU. He continued studies in sociology, receiving an M.A. and Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research with a concentration in urban sociology and sociology of art.

Exhibitions
Topal exhibited his collective and individual artworks and research projects in institutions such as the 8th and 9th Istanbul Biennials; apexart, New York; Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21), Vienna; Kunst-Werke, Berlin; ZKM Center for Art and Media; MoMA PS1; Kunstwerke, Berlin; Platform, Istanbul and Roundtable: The 9th Gwangju Biennale. He recently contributed to "Harbor" show at Istanbul Modern Museum, Istanbul, and "Perpetual Revolution" at International Center of Photography Museum, New York.

Topal represented Turkey at the 49th Venice Biennale. His texts and projects have been featured in many international journals, books, and catalogs. He is co-editor of the book, The Sea-Image: Visual Manifestations of Port Cities and Global Waters which is the outcome of visual research and an international symposium for the Istanbul European Capital of Culture 2010.