Ertürer, Who Photographed the Memory of Adapazarı and Istanbul, Is Commemorated

Ertürer, who photographed the streets, daily life, and changing urban texture of Adapazarı and Istanbul starting from the 1950s, left behind a vast archive that sheds light on Turkey's social memory. Selected frames from the artist's work spanning over 75 years met with the audience at an exhibition held this year at Bulgur Palas.

Born in Adapazarı in 1936, Ertürer was introduced to photography at a young age through his father, Ahmet Ertürer, and his older brother, the photographer Mümtaz Ertürer. In 1969, the artist won first prize in Turkey in an amateur photography competition organized by Hayat magazine with his work titled "Cracked Earth" (Çatlak Toprak).

The photographs captured through Ertürer's lens did not merely archive the past but also revealed the human landscapes of the era through elements such as street vendors, children's games, public squares, and urban architecture. The exhibition titled "Another World Where He Looked," curated by Murat Gür, brought together the artist's long-standing production and Turkey's transforming social structure.