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 the public at Istanbul Modern. Realized through a collaboration between Istanbul Modern and the Ara Güler Museum, the exhibition draws from the collections and archives of both institutions, presenting the transformations the city has undergone since the mid-20th century. It makes visible the role of Ara Güler's photographs in the formation of the collective memory resulting from this change.

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

Ara Güler's works, published 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 maps 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 prompt reflection on the relationship between the photographer's subjectivity and photography itself."Two Archives, One Selection," which brings together Ara Güler's photographs that invite repeated viewing with archival materials, reminds viewers both of Güler's production practice and his role in creating the consciousness of Istanbul in our minds. Curated by Demet Yıldız, Head of the Istanbul Modern Photography Department, and advised by Umut Sülün, Director of the Ara Güler Archive and Research Center, the exhibition is open until 17 November. Throughout the exhibition period, various discussions and programs on the city and collective memory will also be organized.