23.10.2026 19:02
Vatican Ambassador Fahrettin Altun came to the fore with the speech he made at the Istanbul Photo Awards exhibition opened in Rome. Addressing the guests in Italian, Altun talked about the historical heritage of Istanbul and Rome, while in his English speech he drew attention to the role of photography in making wars and humanitarian dramas visible. Altun, who also drew attention with his long hair and beard, stood out with his new style.
The Vatican Ambassador Fahrettin Altun spoke at the opening of the Istanbul Photo Awards exhibition held in Italy's capital, Rome. Altun, who drew attention with his long hair and beard, emphasized the historical importance of Istanbul and Rome in his Italian speech at the ceremony. He shared his assessments on the role of photography in social memory in English.
"ISTANBUL AND ROME ARE TWO GREAT CITIES OF MEMORY"
Vatican Ambassador Fahrettin Altun, who attended the opening of the Istanbul Photo Awards exhibition held in Rome, addressed the guests in Italian. In his speech, Altun expressed his pleasure at being in Rome and stated that the exhibition establishes a cultural bond between Istanbul and Rome.
Describing Istanbul and Rome as two great cities of memory carrying traces of the past, Altun stated that both cities have witnessed great empires, peoples, and the meeting of cultures.
Emphasizing that the two cities have come together again through the art of photography, Altun said that photography is one of the ways of remembering and not forgetting.
"A PHOTOGRAPH IS A CHOICE"
Continuing his speech with assessments in English, Altun drew attention to the fact that photography influences the way we understand and interpret the world. Referring to John Berger's book Ways of Seeing, Altun stated that photographs prompt people not only to look but also to think about what they see.
Altun stated that the exhibition is not merely an event where photographs are displayed, but also serves as a window opening onto the world. Emphasizing that looking is not a passive act, Altun noted that photography makes this choice visible and accessible.
FROM GAZA TO UKRAINE, DIFFERENT FACES OF THE WORLD
Noting that the exhibition addresses developments in Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine as well as different topics such as environmental issues and sports, Altun pointed out that war, migration, climate change, and identity issues are inseparable parts of today's world.
Also mentioning the work titled No Hope in Gaza, which was selected as this year's "Photo of the Year," Altun stated that the photograph reveals the humanitarian drama in the region in all its starkness.
The Istanbul Photo Awards exhibition brings together frames from different geographies and agendas, highlighting the role of photography in news storytelling and social memory.