Collaborating with the Ara Güler Museum (Turkey), Qatar Museums has organised In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy, an exhibition dedicated to the internationally renowned Armenian-Turkish photojournalist Ara Güler, also known as the Eye of Istanbul. One is welcome to admire his iconic images showcasing his exceptional ability to capture Turkish cultural heritage. Curated by Sheikha Maryam Al Thani and the Ara Güler Museum, the show is on view at the Museum of Islamic Art until 9 November 2024.
The exhibition comprises four sections, displaying 155 photographs, correspondence, cameras, and memorabilia from the Ara Güler Archives and Research Center in Istanbul, offering an in-depth look at Güler’s body of work.
The show opens with the Eternal Tapestry section featuring Güler’s iconic black-and-white photographs of Istanbul, his hometown, depicting its people, streets, and docks. Against the backdrop of historical monuments and the city’s architectural grandeur, Güler captures a dynamic and ever-changing city. These images, presented alongside 19th and early 20th-century technical prints from the Qatar Museums General Collection, emphasise Istanbul’s significance as a cultural crossroads.
The second section, Echoes from the Past, reflects Güler’s passion for history and documentation. It features his important photo-reportages on archaeological sites like the ancient city of Aphrodisias and Mount Nemrut, underscoring photography’s role in preserving historical legacies. This section also includes photographs of various historical sites and structures in Turkey, ranging from Neolithic discoveries to Ottoman artefacts.
The third section, In Good Company, exhibits Güler’s portraits of prominent figures: writers, artists, politicians, and philosophers. Among the highlights is the original handmade model of the book Seven Traces on Earth, which features portraits of seven acclaimed figures such as Pablo Picasso, Tennessee Williams, and Salvador Dali. Visitors can also see an exclusive portrait of renowned Turkish abstract artist Fahrelnissa Zeid paired with her paintings on loan from the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art collection.
The show concludes with the screening of Hero’s End (1973-1975), a film by Güler documenting the dismantling of the Ottoman warship Yavuz. The film includes compositions by famous folk musician Ruhi Su, historical photographs, drawings, and Güler’s documentary recordings.
About the artist
Ara Güler (b. 1928, Istanbul, Turkey – 2018) originally aimed to pursue a career in cinema, inspired by his father’s friends who belonged to the art world. He worked in film studios and joined courses in drama under actor and director Muhsin Ertuğrul. However, in 1950, Güler began his career as a photojournalist with Yeni Istanbul and later worked for the Turkish daily, Hürriyet, and other publications, including international ones like Stern, Paris Match, and Sunday Times, London, and Hayat magazine. In the early 60s, Güler joined Magnum Photos, further establishing his place in the world of photography.
Güler has received several prestigious awards, including Turkey’s Photographer of the Century (1999), Master of Leica (1962), France’s Légion d’honneur, Lifetime Achievement Lucie Award (2009), and Turkey’s Grand Prize of Culture and Arts (2005). His work is part of the esteemed public collections worldwide: Paris’s National Library of France, New York’s George Eastman Museum, Das imaginäre Photo-Museum, and Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, among others.
To get more information about In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy, please visit the exhibition’s official web page.
In addition, you might be interested in learning more about the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
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