A special collaboration between the Ara Güler Museum in Istanbul and Qatar Museums, In the Footsteps of Ara Güler offers a glimpse into the life of the globally acclaimed photographer.
In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy
Past Exhibition
A glimpse into the captivating storytelling of globally acclaimed photographer Ara Güler, showcasing his portrayal of 1950s Turkey.
Ara Güler, Sophia Loren, Cannes Film Festival, 1958. archival pigment print. Ara Güler Museum. Photograph: Ara Güler © Ara Güler Museum
Ara Güler, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, 1955. Archival pigment print. Ara Güler Museum. Photograph: Ara Güler © Ara Güler Museum
Structured as an expansive journey into his career spanning over 70 years, the exhibition introduces Ara Güler's life, segueing into ‘Eternal Tapestry,' followed by ‘Echoes from the Past,’ spotlighting his archaeological findings across Turkey. A section dedicated to his portraits of leading writers, artists, politicians, philosophers and other notable figures of his time follows, culminating in a display featuring iconic pieces from the Ara Güler Archives and Research Center and the Qatar Museums’ General Collection. The exhibition concludes with the screening of Hero’s End, a film directed, written and produced by Ara Güler.
Curated by Sheikha Maryam Al Thani and the Ara Güler Museum team, the exhibition of Güler’s photography offers a comprehensive overview of the artist’s work depicting Istanbul's inhabitants, revealing historical landmarks, and immortalising both through his inquisitive eye.
The Ara Güler Archives and Research Center and the Ara Güler Museum are founded by Doğuş Group.
The exhibition also aims to foster the cultural connections established in 2015 by continuing the legacy projects that were part of the Qatar-Turkey 2015 Year of Culture.
About the Artist
Ara Güler, also known as 'Istanbul’s Eye’, has worked for internationally acclaimed magazines including Time-Life, Stern, Paris Match and The Sunday Times. He has been the recipient of several 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.
Güler’s work is featured in notable international collections including Paris’s National Library of France; George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York; Das imaginäre Photo-Museum (publication); Museum Ludwig Köln; and Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska.
About the Ara Güler Museum
The Ara Güler Museum was established as a result of a partnership between Ara Güler, one of Turkey’s preeminent photojournalists and photographers, and Doğuş Group. The museum, located in the Bomontiada complex in Istanbul, opened with Ara Güler’s participation on 16 August 2018, his 90th birthday.
The mission of the Ara Güler Museum is to share Ara Güler’s versatile artistic identity, inspiring life and esteemed archives with the widest possible audience. The museum aims to highlight and promote the visual, emotional and social impacts of the art of photography through local and international exhibitions, publications, events and collaborations. The Ara Güler Museum was recognised as an official private museum by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2022. The Ara Güler Museum is a member of the International Council of Museums.
