Turkish film director Nuri Bilge Ceylan presented a selection of his trademark photos in his new solo exhibition “About Looking” on Tuesday at the Dirimart Gallery in İstanbul.
Art lovers and fans of Ceylan's films packed the Nişantaşı gallery for Tuesday's opening. It was also attended by the filmmaker himself, who is equally famous for his photography as for his films.
Curated by Heinz Peter Schwerfel and running until Dec. 23, “About Looking” presents photos Ceylan has taken since 2003 in different parts of Anatolia.
The selection on display bears a striking resemblance stylistically to scenes from the famous auteur's critically acclaimed films, which include “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” and his most recent film, the Cannes Palme d'Or-winning “Winter Sleep.”
The exhibit features landscapes and portraits of people who have the common physiognomies of Anatolian people, like the photo of an older man with deep wrinkles, thick, furrowed eyebrows and eyes so dark it is difficult find the pupil. The shadowy contrasts in the pictures leave the spectator immersed in melancholy, in typical Ceylan fashion.
One of the most striking pieces in the show is a panoramic shot titled “The Village, Kars,” taken in 2004. Although the photo's outstanding feature is a landscape of pristine white snow, Ceylan in this photo still manages to instill a feeling of melancholy in the viewer thanks to his signature visual style.
Zeynep Karataş (Cihan/Today's Zaman)
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