“The trembling water resembles a wrinkled skin,
A passenger of the first ferry descends the stairs,
A tram awakens the elderly bridge.”
The “Istanbul Awakens” exhibition, showcasing prints produced by Ara Güler in the darkroom of Beyoğlu Güler Apartments, alongside his personal cameras, enlarger, and other darkroom equipment, offers a broad perspective of Istanbul in Doğuş Group’s Ara Güler Museum.
Having already been displayed in Hungary and Qatar, the veteran photojournalist Ara Güler’s new exhibition in Istanbul takes its title from Güler’s short text “Morning in Istanbul” which he wrote in 1946 at the age of 18.
“The Kadıköy ferry is followed by another ferryboat -the Büyükdere, which has come up from the Bosporus. Istanbul comes alive, and begins to live the life it lives every day,” a part of the text reads.
For this, the exhibition presents a collection of ephemera from the archive of Istanbul’s iconic and historical places, from Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Golden Horn, Galata, Taksim, Polonezköy, Paşabahçe, Ayvansaray to Arnavutköy. Half of the photographs on display are being shown for the first time from the Ara Güler archive.
Güler, while photographing Istanbul, not only documented the city as a physical space but also its soul. In that sense, “Istanbul Awakens” masterfully demonstrates his ability to capture the city’s transformation from night to day, and day to night.
The photographs offer a glimpse not only into familiar silhouettes of Istanbul, but also into the quiet moments that exist within the solitary hours connecting night to morning.
These photographs, which explore the city’s awakening, trace the steps of Istanbul’s early hours while also alluding to the inner journey of its dwellers. As daylight gradually awakens the city, the sounds that faded into whispers during the late hours of the night begin to rise once more as the noise and bustle of daily life returns.
Ara Güler Museum primarily represents the archives, but it is also a photography museum. In this context, discussing the darkroom, photographic techniques, and photography in general is of great importance. Therefore, showcasing prints produced by Ara Güler in his own darkroom adds an exciting dimension to the exhibition. The museum presents a variety of objects and documents related to photography, particularly focusing on the envelopes containing Ara Güler’s negatives and his darkroom equipment.
In the office space of Beyoğlu, special photo boxes have been used to carefully store prints, stacked one on top of the other to protect them from damage. As an international photographer and journalist, Ara Güler traveled frequently and, as a result, had access to various materials. During this time, he engaged in discussions with his contemporaries to refine his archiving techniques, ensuring the proper preservation of his work.
The exhibition also includes collages featuring photographs from different years of Ara Güler’s work in his darkroom and his working environment. A recreation of Ara Güler’s darkroom from Beyoğlu is part of the exhibition, providing visitors with a detailed look at the equipment and the handwritten notes on chemicals and processes.
The museum places great emphasis on educating visitors about the darkroom techniques and equipment. Last week, a university class visited the museum to learn about negatives and contact printing, highlighting the importance of passing on this knowledge.
By visiting the exhibition, visitors gain a deeper understanding of how a photograph is transformed into a print, how much time this process takes, and the magic behind it all.
