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Thousands of people from all over Anatolia has came to Istanbul to celebrate İstanbul’un fethi – 559 aniversary of conquering Constantinople by Mehmed II. Main event took place inside of the Beşiktaş stadium. Religion and nationalism were indistinguishable on that day, as for those people conquering the city in 1453 was an act of divine will.
African irregular migrants in Istanbul.
This ‘still pictures video’ includes audio and visual materials collected during the period of 6 months in Kumkapi. It is area where most of African immigrants are living. It is a portrait of the place and of people who are living there. I created this work while shooting the short documentary which should be finished soon.
Director&photography: Szymon Malinowski
Ruins of old Armenian church in Armenian district of Tbilisi. May 2012.
(choose your version)
“How happy is the one who says “I am Turk.”” * – M. K. Ataturk
“How happy is the one who says.”
* – this sentence is at every police station, and at every turkish primary school. It’s a quote from Atatürk‘s speech from 1933.
My personal and subjective list of places which I want to visit before I will leave Istanbul in end of May.
Despite the fact that I stayed in this city almost a year I didn’t went or I didnt spend enough time in those interesting places. So in next weeks I will be trying to find time to go to:
1. Eyup cemetery and Eyup Mosque – This big muslim necropolis is for sure worth to check. And I promise to one of my drivers which I met at Black Sea Coast on the way back from my hitchhikng to Georgia to visit this holy Camii (mosque).
2. Black Sea side – It will be intersting to see the city from perspective of Black Sea. Next time when I will come back to Istanbul, it it possible that there will be no longer forest but just concret of third Bridge to Asia (very controversial plan).
3. Mevlana Center/Museum – place of gatherings of Mevlana’s sufis close to Galat Tower
4. Adam Mickiewicz Museum – The most important polish poet of XIX century have died in Istanbul and his museum is in very colorful district of Tarlabasi (some people call it slums).
5. Balat, old jewish district – old, poor area which was jewish in past. Remind me Kazimierz in Krakow but from 90′s, from times without turists.
6. Bostanci Seaside – chillout on seaside in sunny day. Never too much.
7. Princess Islands – beautiful Islands 1h on the ferry from the city. One of my favourite spots.
8. Polonezkoy – polish village in Istanbul. Descendants of polish imigrants from XIX century are still living there and they are cultivating polich traditions. Its interesting to see the place as well as to try polish food. Also there is a nice nature I guess.
Batumi
Batumi
Tbilisi
Batumi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Giresun
Giresun
Duzkoy, village close to Giresun
Falı – turkish fortune telling from coffee
Kemalpasa, near the Georgian border
Karayolu, Turkish Black Sea motorway
Black Sea coast in Georgia, near Batumi
