Exhibition: Pakistan and Turkey seen through one lens

Photographer captures the similarities between the two countries

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition by eminent Turkish photographer Erkut Onart features photographs of Turkey and Pakistan side by side – chronicling the similarities between the two countries.

The exhibition, ‘Turkey and Pakistan: Brother Countries’, went on display at Satrang Gallery on Friday.

Photographs of Istanbul’s streets, the Blue Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Leander Tower, the Dervish ceremony, Amasya and many other beautiful Turkish sights, along with various delicacies of Turkish cuisine, line up the walls of the gallery; giving it a Turkish aura.

The photographs capturing the essence of Pakistan include the Badshahi Masjid, Shish Mahal Lahore, Mohatta Palace, Wagah Border, Truck Art, Street Musicians, Rickshaws, Henna Art and other picturesque sights.

Onart, the mastermind behind the exhibition, has displayed his work in 50 countries across the globe. Born in 1937 in Ankara, he started photography at the age of 11. After graduating from college, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and travelled across the world to photograph. His photographs have been exhibited in Netherlands, Belgium, Istanbul, Africa, Middle East Countries, Brazil, Pakistan and other nations.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Onart said that he loved coming to Pakistan. “I’ve been here several times and being a photographer, I love to capture the beauty of this country. I feel like it has a lot of similarities with Turkey and I love preserving them with my camera,” he said.

He further said that as a photographer he enjoyed going beyond Islamabad and capturing the beauty of Pakistan. “It is a very colourful country with great diversity in cultures that looks brilliant in photographs. Every time I visit, I experience and see new things and it is worth making the trip,” he said.

Ambassador of Turkey, Babur Girgin said that the exhibition was fascinating because it was interesting to compare the two countries through the eyes of the same artist. “There are many aspects that are common to the two brotherly countries reflected in the exhibition; the mosques and the Sufi tradition are similar but also instances of daily life, such as, the spice merchants and street artists that exist in both countries,” he added.

Asma Rashid Khan, director of Satrang Gallery, said that international cooperation in the field of art was important as art and culture build the best bridges between people and countries. “This exhibition of photographs of Pakistan and Turkey is part of our initiative to promote understanding and cultural diplomacy,” she said.

Ambassador Girgin thanked Satrang Gallery for hosting such a beautiful exhibition and the photographer for making his beautiful photographs available for the exhibition.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2016.