İzzet Keribar: Journey of Colors

"Journey of Colors" presents a selection from İzzet Keribar's (b. 1936) vast archive of nearly 1.5 million images. The exhibition highlights the formal elements that have become the artist’s trademark, such as color, light, texture, and graphic composition. It also reveals the artist's evolving style over the years, inviting viewers on a vibrant journey through different times and places.

The first of the six sections within the exhibition showcases Keribar's photographs from the 1950s, featuring images of Istanbul's rapidly evolving street life and photographs of urban and rural settings in South Korea. The second part presents works documenting everyday life in various Istanbul neighborhoods starting from the 1980s. The third and fourth sections explore nature and urban landscapes, showcasing Keribar's ability to transform the “ordinary” into the “extraordinary” through his masterful use of natural light and color. These images were captured during his travels throughout Türkiye and abroad. The fifth section features portraits taken by the artist in various parts of the world, while the final section highlights Keribar's unique semi-abstract images.

"Journey of Colors" brings together İzzet Keribar’s 125 photographs, aiming to remind us of our past ways of life and environments, comprehend the world, and create a universal language through imagery.

Curator: Demet Yıldız Dinçer
Assistant Curator: Şevval Yürüten

About the artist: 

İzzet Keribar was born in Istanbul in 1936. In the 1950s, İzzet Keribar started his career by capturing images of Istanbul. His photographic skills were further honed during his military service in Korea in 1956, where he spent a year refining his technique and gaining valuable experience.

After a lengthy hiatus devoted to his commercial pursuits and hobbies such as philately, interior decoration, and antique collecting, he reignited his passion for photography in 1980. From that point forward, he embarked on extensive travels throughout Türkiye and abroad, dedicated to capturing images that would shape his distinctive photographic style. In 1984, inspired by Nevzat Çakır's idea of collaboration, he co-founded Group FOG, one of Türkiye's most successful and prolific photography collectives, alongside Bülent Özgören, Mehmet Kısmet, İlyas Göçmen, and Yusuf Tuvi. İzzet Keribar holds honorary memberships in several prestigious photography associations, including IFSAK (Istanbul Photography and Cinema Amateurs Association), BASAF (Balıkesir Photography Art Association), GİFSAD (Gaziantep İpekyolu Photography Art Association), and FOTOGEN (Photography Art Association). His exceptional work has earned him international recognition, with the FIAP (International Federation of the Art of Photography) awarding him the titles of AFIAP (Artist) in 1985 and EFIAP (Excellency) in 1988. In 1991, Keribar's contributions to the art of photography were further acknowledged when the French Ministry of Culture bestowed upon him the title of “Order of Academic Palms (Knight)” for his series of photography events at the French Cultural Center. That same year, his talent was globally recognized when he secured second place among 16,000 entries in the National Geographic Traveler magazine's international photography contest.

He secured first prize twice in Fuji Film's European Press Photography competitions (1997 and 2001). His photographs and articles have been featured in prominent publications, including Atlas, one of Türkiye's leading travel magazines, Skylife, and numerous other magazines and books both in Türkiye and abroad. In recognition of his contributions to art and culture, Keribar was honored with the "Culture and Art Grand Prize" by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2012.

Eczacıbaşı Publications featured Keribar's career in the sixth book of their "Photography Artists Series" in 2015. His book Light Comes from the East was published by the Istanbul Photography Foundation in 2018, the same year he received the prestigious "Presidential Culture and Art Grand Prize."

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Blue Champs-Élysées Boulevard
Paris, France
2009