"Behind the Camera of the Republic" Exhibition Opens at Pera Museum
Marking the anniversary of the Istanbul Research Institute, the Pera Museum brings the daily life and photojournalism of early republican Istanbul to art lovers.
Opened to visitors at the Pera Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Istanbul Research Institute, the exhibition sheds light on the daily life of the early republican period and the stories behind press photography.
Purpose and Scope of the Exhibition
The Pera Museum presented the exhibition "Behind the Camera of the Republic", prepared on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Istanbul Research Institute, to art enthusiasts.
Curated by İdil Çetin and Ahmet Ersoy, this special exhibition aims to convey the social diversity and rich visual memory of the period to visitors.
Rich Archive and Collection
The selection in the exhibition consists of images compiled from the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Photography Collection and the Press Photographs Archive, which comprises over 90,000 negatives.
This comprehensive archive offers a striking perspective by addressing the thematic diversity of the early republican period alongside the behind-the-scenes of photojournalism.
First Group of Negatives
The prepared selection consists of the first group of the Press Photographs Archive, comprising 12,586 glass and 8,097 acetate negatives.
It is known that a large portion of this important collection was created by journalist and photojournalist Namık Görgüç.
Preservation of the Archive and Other Figures
Following the death of Namık Görgüç in 1947, the archive was preserved and further expanded by photographer Selahattin Giz.
The collection also features works by other prominent photographers of the period, such as Cemal Göral and Faik Şenol.
Daily Life of the City
In the photographs, sometimes the event itself takes center stage, and at other times, curious crowds gathered around and looking at the camera come to the foreground.
Neighborhood alleys, crowded streets, sports areas, and entertainment venues offer scenes that capture the pulse of early republican Istanbul.
The Harsh Face of the News World
Accidents, fires, crime scenes, inmates, and people waiting in courthouse corridors reflect the reality of the news world of the period.
The life struggle of the person on the street and the rhythm of the city are among the main elements addressed from various angles in the exhibition.