On The Road Images of Turkey from the Nar Photos Archive

In the exhibition "On The Road: Images of Turkey from the Nar Photos Archive", Istanbul Modern Photography Gallery presented a compilation from the archive of Nar Photos between 2003-2013, presenting a panorama of events and situations which took place in Turkey’s recent history or whose effects are still felt today.

An independent photography collective, Nar Photos brings together the diverse viewpoints in Turkey through their egalitarian, democratic approach and their stance for freedom since 2003 until the present. Using photography as a visual tool to understand and express the world, the agency chooses to question rather than accept facts as they are presented. By exposing the different situations in life, they create a collective memory of the recent past as well as a broad area for discussion. This visual archive does not look from without; with its sincere approach, it intervenes, rather than standing by as a mere witness. It invites us to confront and reckon with our times. The photographers in the collective take on an active role that triggers change by creating a social consciousness. Having an autonomous structure, the collective provides a stage for issues which are not shown or sufficiently spoken of to be represented.

"On The Road: Images of Turkey from the Nar Photos Archive" consisted of the photographs do not show facts as they are presented to us; rather, they display steps of a journey toward questioning the things that are accepted as facts, while also objectively reflecting authentic snapshots from around the country. Throughout the course of an unpredictable journey, "On the Road" keeps record of stories which have been left in the shadows.

Artists: Adnan Onur Acar, Ahmet Şık, Aylin Kızıl, Barış Sever, Eren Aytuğ, Erhan Arık, Fatma Çelik, Fırat Aygün, Gençer Yurttaş, Gülşin Ketenci, Hüsamettin Bahçe, Kerem Uzel, Lezgin Kani, Mehmet Kaçmaz, Özcan Yurdalan, Ruben Mangasaryan, Saner Şen, Serpil Polat, Serra Akcan, Tolga Sezgin

Curator: Sena Çakırkaya