Following in the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Istanbul

Istanbul Modern Hosts Ara Güler Exhibition at Photography Gallery The first solo exhibition of Ara Güler, who "writes history with his camera," is now open to visitors at Istanbul Modern. Realized in cooperation between Istanbul Modern and the Ara Güler Museum, the exhibition draws from both institutions' collections and archives, presenting the transformation the city has undergone since the mid-20th century. It makes visible the role of Ara Güler's photographs in forming the collective memory that resulted from this change.

Ara Güler Defines Photojournalists as "Those Who Write History with Their Camera"

Ara Güler's works, printed in different periods and each bearing his signature, are accompanied by various darkroom prints, objects and ephemera from the Istanbul Modern Photography Collection and the Ara Güler Museum archive, as well as mappings showing the neighborhoods and angles where the photographs were taken. Through the work of Güler, who defines himself as a photojournalist and photojournalists as "those who write history with their camera," the exhibition aims to encourage reflection on the relationship between the photographer's subjectivity and photography itself."Two Archives, One Selection" brings together Ara Güler's photographs that invite repeated viewing with archival materials, reminding viewers both of Güler's production practice and his role in creating Istanbul consciousness in our minds. Curated by Demet Yıldız, Manager of Istanbul Modern's Photography Department, and advised by Umut Sülün, Director of the Ara Güler Archive and Research Center, the exhibition is open until 17 November. Various talks and programs on the city and collective memory will be organized during the exhibition's run.