18/10/2024
Ara Güler, revered as a true legend in the photography world, left an indelible mark on generations of photographers and artists. His eloquent images captured the essence of life and history, earning him prestigious recognition, including the Leica Lifetime Achievement Award.
Yet, the brilliance of Ara Güler was overshadowed by unfortunate betrayals from those he trusted—a stark reminder of the vulnerability even legends face.However, it’s evident that this journey has not been without its challenges.
Witnessing betrayal from those who were supposed to be trusted allies is disheartening and frustrating. It’s understandable that l would feel a mixture of loyalty to Ara and sorrow for the difficulties he faced during such a tumultuous time. The reality of being forced to make compromises in order to protect his legacy must weigh heavily on Him, especially when the intentions of others come into question.
As Ara was telling me , he never wanted mediocrity to take care of his works as they did in this place in Sisli or the arrogance and disrespect to anything . He never wanted you or your partner to do what you did, l can hear behind many of you “ at list his work his safe “ ? What was the cost ? Ara desapointement until the last day of his life hurt my heart for ever. I know how much what ever l write in this day of October 17th , maybe it will not be policly correct for all this peoples who love him deeply , at list Ara support me as l love him and respect him for who he was as a person and as a photographer.
The archiving of millions of his works was tainted by manipulative actions driven by financial power and egotism, undermining his rights and legacy. This betrayal was compounded by the silence of his friends and peers, reflecting a broader issue of suppression of voices and rights, especially poignant in a context where many journalists face imprisonment for their opinions in Turkey or face intimidation from the same peoples l was meetings with Ara.
Hurriyet.com.tr Ara Güler PhotoIlluminate bila kafara ISTANBUL'74 Fotografevi GezginFoto İstanbul PhotoMaraton CNN TÜRK Okan Bayülgen Ansiklopedisi İlber.Ortaylı Cem Sertesen Ece Ataer MimarSinanÜniversitesi 1982-2003 Ara Güler Fotoğrafları Visioncy Black and White Photography İstanbul Photo Awards Sabancı Holding Anadolu Agency
