In the Footsteps of Ara Güler

Qatar Museums (QM), in collaboration with the Ara Güler Museum in Turkey, presents In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy (9 August to 9 November 2024), an expansive survey of the work of world-renowned photographer and photojournalist Ara Güler (b. 1928, d. 2018). Presented at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), the exhibition captures not just the mastery of Güler's lens but also his profound dedication to portraying the essence of Turkey and its cultural heritage. Through Güler’s iconic images of Istanbul, archaeological findings, and insightful portraits of global figures, visitors will experience firsthand his deep influence on photography and his dedication to preserving shared cultural memory.

Born in Istanbul in 1928, 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 comprehensive overview of the artist’s work depicting Istanbul's inhabitants and revealing historical landmarks, immortalising both through his inquisitive eye. The exhibition features 155 photographs alongside correspondence, photographic equipment, cameras, and other memorabilia from the Ara Güler Archives and Research Center in Istanbul.

Organised in four sections, the exhibition begins with images of Istanbul, the city with which Güler became synonymous, and takes viewers along a cultural and historic journey featuring Turkey's rich archaeological heritage sites and portraits of the 20th century's most recognisable figures. The exhibition concludes with a lesser-known side of the artist, presenting his experimental film, Hero's End.

The introductory section, titled Eternal Tapestry, showcases Ara Güler's celebrated photographs taken along his favourite paths in Istanbul, shown together with historic prints from the Qatar Museums’ General Collection. Against the backdrop of sacred monuments and urban architectural splendour, Güler presents a portrait of a city in perpetual movement, its sounds and scents extending beyond the borders of his frames.

Bridging centuries and perspectives, Eternal Tapestry weaves together Ara Güler's intimate portraits of Istanbul with objects from Qatar Museums' renowned General Collection. Visitors will encounter 19th-century stereoscopes and albumen prints by pioneering photographers such as the Gülmez Frères, three brothers whose Istanbul studio captured the city's allure for Western audiences through early images circulated as souvenir books and postcards. These romanticised views of Constantinople are presented alongside Güler's intimate portrayal of Istanbul, highlighting the city's evolving representation and photography's power to bridge cultures. This section reveals Istanbul's timeless role as a crossroads of East and West, inviting viewers to explore the city through multiple lenses across time.

The subsequent section, titled Echoes from the Past, highlights Güler's love for history and documentation. Güler's dedication and personal interest in archaeology produced some of his most significant photo-reportages, including the 'rediscovery' of Aphrodisias in the late 1950s, as well as Nemrut Dağ, now both inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Presented with these two photo-reportages, which are considered two of Güler’s most important, are his photographs of other historical sites within Turkey ranging from the Neolithic Age to Ottoman landmarks. The visual narratives and poetic imagery within this section highlight the role of photography in raising awareness for preserving the legacy of the past.

In Good Company focuses on Güler’s portraits of leading writers, artists, politicians, philosophers, and other notable figures of his time, many of whom Güler befriended throughout his life. Highlights include a handmade book maquette titled Seven Landmarks of the World, a compilation of his portraits of seven figures, including Pablo Picasso, Tennessee Williams, and Salvador Dalí; and—exclusive to this exhibition—his portrait of Fahrelnissa Zeid, paired with drawings by the artist, from the collection of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.

The exhibition concludes with the screening of Hero’s End (1973-1975), a film directed, written and produced by Ara Güler. The film 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 cinematic collage mixing diverse sources and visual approaches with an unconventional soundtrack, the movie includes compositions by the renowned folk musician Ruhi Su as well as historical drawings and photos, and the photographer’s own documentary footage, which partially involves staged actors.

In the Footsteps of Ara Güler: Exploring the Photographer’s Legacy is curated by Sheikha Maryam Al Thani and the Ara Güler Museum.

Commenting on the occasion, Sheika Maryam Al Thani, Exhibition Co-Curator, said “This exhibition represents a special collaboration between the Ara Güler Museum and archives and Qatar Museums. By bringing together Ara Güler's iconic photographs and ephemera with carefully curated objects from our extensive General Collection, we create a fascinating dialogue that offers fresh perspectives on both Güler's work and our own holdings. This partnership not only enables us to share knowledge and resources but also to shed new light on a historic photographer's oeuvre while highlighting the depth and diversity of Qatar Museums' collections, which comprise over 300,000 objects. Through this exhibition, we invite visitors to explore the stories woven by these two remarkable collections, offering a testament to the enduring power of photography and its ability to bridge cultures and eras.”

Çağla Saraç, Doğuş Group Art Advisor, added, “As the Ara Güler Museum, the first museum in Turkey dedicated to a photographer of this stature, our mission is to share the work of internationally renowned photojournalist Ara Güler with the widest possible audience while also passing on his legacy to future generations. We are very excited to open the museum's first exhibition in Qatar in collaboration with Qatar Museums, featuring an expansive array of Ara Güler’s work and ephemera from our archives. It is our privilege to show photographs reflecting various notable themes within Güler’s archives and to present his multidisciplinary artistic identity to both existing and new audiences alike.”

The Ara Güler Archives and Research Center and the Ara Güler Museum were founded by Doğuş Group.

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