İzzet Keribar: Journey of Colors

Istanbul Modern continues its series of exhibitions showcasing masters of photography from Türkiye with "İzzet Keribar: Journey of Colors." The exhibition, sponsored by Burgan Bank, presents an extensive collection of the artist's works spanning from the 1950s to the present day. Art enthusiasts can experience this captivating display at Istanbul Modern until May 25, 2025.

In celebration of its upcoming 20th anniversary, Istanbul Modern's Photography Gallery presents "İzzet Keribar: Journey of Colors." This exhibition showcases photographs captured by the artist during his travels throughout Türkiye and various regions of the world. Offering viewers a vibrant journey across diverse times and places, the exhibition marks the first time in Türkiye that a museum has brought together Keribar's photographs of Istanbul and South Korea—which represent his early forays into photography—alongside works spanning from his return to the medium in the 1980s to the present day.

While highlighting formal elements such as color, light, texture, and graphic elements, the exhibition showcases the artist's evolving style over the years. Curated by Demet Yıldız Dinçer, Curator and Head of the Photography Department at Istanbul Modern, the exhibition presents vibrant landscapes and striking portraits from Keribar's extensive travels.

A Journey into Keribar's Colorful World

Oya Eczacıbaşı, Chair of the Board of Istanbul Modern, highlighted the museum's commitment to showcasing the evolution of photography in Türkiye and globally, featuring both emerging talents and established masters. She stated, "Following exhibitions of renowned photographers such as Şahin Kaygun, Gökşin Sipahioğlu, Yıldız Moran, Ara Güler, Lütfi Özkök, Şakir Eczacıbaşı, and Ozan Sağdıç, we are now presenting a special selection of works by İzzet Keribar, who has carved a unique niche in Türkiye’s photographic history."

Eczacıbaşı continued, "We are deeply grateful to İzzet Keribar, an internationally acclaimed photographer with numerous exhibitions worldwide and a multitude of national and international accolades, for his generous donation of over 120 photographs to our museum collection in celebration of Istanbul Modern's 20th anniversary."

Highlighting the significance of exhibiting at Istanbul Modern for its 20th anniversary, İzzet Keribar remarked, "I'm experiencing one of the most meaningful and exciting periods of my career. This curated selection from over 1.5 million photographs represents various stages of my artistic journey. Each image captures unique moments, lands, colors, emotions, and cultural contexts. The exhibition showcases photographs I've taken during my travels across Türkiye and around the world, distinguished by their formal qualities such as color, light, shape, texture, and composition. Visitors will encounter my work and embark on a colorful journey through more than 120 pieces, including landscapes, portraits, street scenes, and semi-abstract graphic works from both my home country and abroad."

Murat Dinç, General Manager of Burgan Bank, expressed his delight in supporting the third photography exhibition to be showcased at Istanbul Modern's new museum building. He stated, "At Burgan Bank, we strive to provide the best customer experience through our innovative approach in the banking sector. Simultaneously, we enrich our customers' lives by supporting cultural and artistic endeavors. Our long-term commitment to culture and art projects enables us to share the original ideas and creations of esteemed artists with society. This project with İzzet Keribar, one of Türkiye’s foremost figures in photography, is a tangible reflection of our commitment to supporting art and artists. Each photograph in the exhibition transports viewers to diverse geographies, cultures, and emotional moments, underscoring once more the healing power of art. We are honored to sponsor this exhibition to share the journey of İzzet Keribar's vibrant photographic adventures, captured both in Türkiye and abroad, and to support his colorful path."

The Journey of Light, Color, and Form

Demet Yıldız Dinçer, the curator of the exhibition, notes that a comprehensive selection was made from the artist's archive of 1.5 million photographs. She states, "Keribar's signature achievement is his ability to create compositions that appear effortless, despite the delicate balance of light, color, shape, form, and texture. He captures the essence of his subjects in a single photograph, crafting a universal language through his images. In essence, Keribar strives to compile an album of humanity and its environment before the world changes."

The catalogue accompanying the exhibition “İzzet Keribar: Journey of Colors” features an essay by curator Demet Yıldız Dinçer, exploring the artist’s relationship with photography, as well as a conversation with İzzet Keribar conducted by photographer Merih Akoğul.

Visitors can experience the exhibition at Istanbul Modern until May 25, 2025.