In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy — About the Galleries

Born in Istanbul in 1928, Ara Güler is widely celebrated both nationally and internationally as a master of photojournalism and the art of photography. Having lived until the age of 90, he bore witness to almost the entirety of modern Turkey's history. With a career spanning 70 years, Güler’s work is a visual historical record of Turkey and beyond.

In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy offers a look into the multifaceted career and inspiring life of the renowned photojournalist.

Starting with Istanbul, the city with which Güler became synonymous, the exhibition then takes viewers along a cultural and historic journey across some of Turkey's rich archaeological heritage sites. Thereafter, viewers are greeted by numerous portraits of the 20th century's most recognisable figures across different fields, many of whom Güler befriended throughout his life. The exhibition concludes with a lesser-known side of the artist, presenting his experimental film, Hero's End. The work is an homage to the legendary photographer’s early cinematic ambitions.

Since its invention in 1839, photography has been crucial in facilitating cross-cultural communication and evoking awe for places travelled. Qatar Museums' General Collection houses an internationally acclaimed array of images and objects from photographic history. Presented here, they juxtapose Güler's native lens with the perspectives of 19th-century travel photographers who long viewed Istanbul as a place of wonder. 

Eternal Tapestry

Istanbul continues to captivate the imagination of people around the world with its rich history as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. A magical city of contrasts lying on two continents, Istanbul is at once chaotic and calming, loud and quiet, vibrant with its fusion of turquoise and golden colours.

Born and having lived his entire life in Istanbul, Ara Güler’s photojournalism career took him around Turkey and abroad; however, no subject was dearer to his heart than his beloved city, which was a lifelong study. Masterfully capturing the allure of Istanbul, he became synonymous with the city itself.

Güler knew every inch of the landscape, documenting Istanbul’s historical events, architecture, and inhabitants. Stepping out from his family apartment in Beyoğlu, he would frequent his neighbourhood spots along Istiklal Avenue, meandering down to the Galata docks. From there on, he would, at times, continue to the old town or jump on a ferry along the Bosphorus.

This section follows the artist’s footsteps along this frequented path and consists of many of his most celebrated photographs. The 19th- and early 20th-century prints of Istanbul from the Qatar Museums General Collection accompanying Güler’s black-and- white images are a testament to the timeless appeal of this illustrious city.

An old man sitting pensively in a coffee house, the caulked body of a boat or a temporary farewell are only a few moments captured in Güler’s vast exploration of the city he called home. Against the backdrop of sacred monuments and its architectural splendour, Güler presents a portrait of a city in perpetual movement, its sounds and scents extending beyond the borders of his frames.

Echoes from the Past

Ara Güler's love for history and documentation extended beyond Istanbul. He travelled to and recorded numerous archaeological sites around the world, but mostly the rich heritage in his home country, Turkey. Sites he covered across Turkey ranged from those dating back to the Neolithic Age to ones from the Ottoman Empire. Güler's dedication and personal interest in archaeology birthed some of his most significant photo-reportages, including the 'rediscovery' of Aphrodisias in the late 1950s, as well as Nemrut Dağ, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017 and 1987, respectively. Presenting these two of the most important photo reportages of Güler, along with a selection from the countless historical sites he documented within Turkey, the visual narratives within this section highlight the role of photography in raising awareness for preserving the legacy of the past through the artist’s poetic imagery. Various ephemera, including correspondence, archival boxes and publications from the Ara Güler Archives and Research Center accompany this special survey.

In Good Company

Throughout his life, Ara Güler photographed and interviewed the leading writers, artists, politicians, scientists and other notable figures of his time. Portraits, therefore, form a core theme in Güler’s archives.

As a member of the international photographic and artistic community, he often formed lifelong friendships with the subjects and contemporaries he captured through his lens. In addition to a selection of portraits of these figures, this section includes a handmade book maquette of the Seven Landmarks of the World: a compilation of his portraits of seven figures, including Pablo Picasso, Tennessee Williams, and Salvador Dalí. Exclusive to this exhibition, the portrait of Fahrelnissa Zeid is paired with drawings by the artist herself from the collection of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.

Hero’s End

Directed and produced by Ara Güler himself, Hero’s End (1973-1975) tells the story of the dismantling of Yavuz, a historical warship that played a vital role in the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the First World War (1914-1918). A filmic collage mixing diverse sources and visual approaches with an unconventional soundtrack, the movie includes compositions by the renowned folk musician and activist Ruhi Su. Güler was saddened by the news that this significant part of military heritage was dismantled only to be recycled in a razor factory. The film is made up of historical drawings and photos, as well as the photographer’s own documentary footage, which partially involves staged actors.