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ARA GULER'S ANATOLIA IN US GALLERY
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 13 2013
ISTANBUL
The pieces on display are part of a set of 53 photographs of
architectural monuments, taken by Ara Guler.
Throughout his career, acclaimed and prolific photojournalist Ara
Guler, Turkey's internationally acclaimed photographer, has taken more
than 800,000 photographs documenting Turkish culture and important
historical sites. Opening Dec. 14 at the Smithsonian's Arthur M.
Sackler Gallery, "In Focus: Ara Guler's Anatolia" reveals a selection
of his never-before-shown works of Anatolian monuments, taking the
viewer on a historical journey through the lens of one of the world's
most legendary photojournalists.
Running through May 4, 2014, 21 the work on display also challenge
Guler's definition of himself as a photojournalist, not an artist,
and engage visitors in a critical debate about whether photography
is a form of art or a means of documentation.
The exhibition was curated by students from the Johns Hopkins
University's Program in Museums and Society, under the supervision of
Nancy Micklewright, the Head of Scholarly Programs and Publications at
the Freer and Sackler Galleries. During the 2013 spring semester, the
students worked with the archival collection to develop an exhibition
proposal, along with labels, programming ideas and Web content.
Bearing witness to the now lost Turkey of the 1950s and 1960s,
Guler assembled a rich and diverse body of work. Extracted from
his extensive portfolio, "In Focus: Ara Guler's Anatolia" features
photographs of Seljuk, Armenian and Ottoman monuments across Anatolia,
the Asian mainland of Turkey.
A form of magic
Using a variety of vantage points, dramatic lighting and strong
contrasts, Guler expressed a unique and instantly recognizable
photographic point of view. He was quoted as saying, "I believe
that photography is a form of magic, by means of which a moment of
experience is seized for transmission to future generations" (Ara
Guler: A Photographical Sketch of Lost Istanbul, Dunya Yayınları,
1994).
Guler's ability to capture fleeting moments and his fascination with
storytelling are evident in several of the pieces on display, such as
"Gök Medrese" (school), which captures a child running past a ruined
facade, an open doorway allowing a glimpse of a larger world beyond.
Since 1965, when these images were made, some of the historic buildings
Guler depicts have been extensively renovated to become tourist
sites and some have deteriorated even further--in both cases, Guler's
photographs provide a poignant and valuable record of a moment in time.
The exhibition will also feature a short video, "Ara Guler: A Lifetime
Achievement" by FotoTV (2010), which will allow visitors to hear
Guler's own thoughts on photojournalism, art and his career.
A set of 53 photographs
Guler (b. 1928) took his first photojournalism jobs at local newspapers
while studying economics at Istanbul University in 1950. In 1955, he
became head of the Photography Department at Hayat (Life) magazine,
and soon after began working for international media. He photographed
for Turkish publications such as Yeni Istanbul (New Istanbul) and
Hayat magazine, and major international publications, including Time
Life, Paris Match, and Smithsonian magazine. In the 1960s, he worked
alongside acclaimed photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson at Magnum
Photos. Now 85, Guler continues to live and work in Istanbul.
The pieces on display are part of a set of 53 photographs of
architectural monuments donated to the Freer and Sackler Archives
in 1989 by Raymond Hare, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey (1961-1965). The
collection of photographs was selected to reflect Hare's lifelong
interest in the architecture of the region and was presented to him
by his colleagues upon his departure from Turkey.
The exhibition has been made possible through a grant from The Andrew
W. Mellon Foundation to the Johns Hopkins University in support of its
Program in Museums and Society. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the
adjacent Freer Gallery of Art are in the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day (closed Dec. 25),
and admission is free.
For more information visit www.asia.si.edu
From: Baghdasarian
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 13 2013
ISTANBUL
The pieces on display are part of a set of 53 photographs of
architectural monuments, taken by Ara Guler.
Throughout his career, acclaimed and prolific photojournalist Ara
Guler, Turkey's internationally acclaimed photographer, has taken more
than 800,000 photographs documenting Turkish culture and important
historical sites. Opening Dec. 14 at the Smithsonian's Arthur M.
Sackler Gallery, "In Focus: Ara Guler's Anatolia" reveals a selection
of his never-before-shown works of Anatolian monuments, taking the
viewer on a historical journey through the lens of one of the world's
most legendary photojournalists.
Running through May 4, 2014, 21 the work on display also challenge
Guler's definition of himself as a photojournalist, not an artist,
and engage visitors in a critical debate about whether photography
is a form of art or a means of documentation.
The exhibition was curated by students from the Johns Hopkins
University's Program in Museums and Society, under the supervision of
Nancy Micklewright, the Head of Scholarly Programs and Publications at
the Freer and Sackler Galleries. During the 2013 spring semester, the
students worked with the archival collection to develop an exhibition
proposal, along with labels, programming ideas and Web content.
Bearing witness to the now lost Turkey of the 1950s and 1960s,
Guler assembled a rich and diverse body of work. Extracted from
his extensive portfolio, "In Focus: Ara Guler's Anatolia" features
photographs of Seljuk, Armenian and Ottoman monuments across Anatolia,
the Asian mainland of Turkey.
A form of magic
Using a variety of vantage points, dramatic lighting and strong
contrasts, Guler expressed a unique and instantly recognizable
photographic point of view. He was quoted as saying, "I believe
that photography is a form of magic, by means of which a moment of
experience is seized for transmission to future generations" (Ara
Guler: A Photographical Sketch of Lost Istanbul, Dunya Yayınları,
1994).
Guler's ability to capture fleeting moments and his fascination with
storytelling are evident in several of the pieces on display, such as
"Gök Medrese" (school), which captures a child running past a ruined
facade, an open doorway allowing a glimpse of a larger world beyond.
Since 1965, when these images were made, some of the historic buildings
Guler depicts have been extensively renovated to become tourist
sites and some have deteriorated even further--in both cases, Guler's
photographs provide a poignant and valuable record of a moment in time.
The exhibition will also feature a short video, "Ara Guler: A Lifetime
Achievement" by FotoTV (2010), which will allow visitors to hear
Guler's own thoughts on photojournalism, art and his career.
A set of 53 photographs
Guler (b. 1928) took his first photojournalism jobs at local newspapers
while studying economics at Istanbul University in 1950. In 1955, he
became head of the Photography Department at Hayat (Life) magazine,
and soon after began working for international media. He photographed
for Turkish publications such as Yeni Istanbul (New Istanbul) and
Hayat magazine, and major international publications, including Time
Life, Paris Match, and Smithsonian magazine. In the 1960s, he worked
alongside acclaimed photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson at Magnum
Photos. Now 85, Guler continues to live and work in Istanbul.
The pieces on display are part of a set of 53 photographs of
architectural monuments donated to the Freer and Sackler Archives
in 1989 by Raymond Hare, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey (1961-1965). The
collection of photographs was selected to reflect Hare's lifelong
interest in the architecture of the region and was presented to him
by his colleagues upon his departure from Turkey.
The exhibition has been made possible through a grant from The Andrew
W. Mellon Foundation to the Johns Hopkins University in support of its
Program in Museums and Society. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the
adjacent Freer Gallery of Art are in the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day (closed Dec. 25),
and admission is free.
For more information visit www.asia.si.edu
From: Baghdasarian