I took these photographs as part of the exhibition titled 'Cynara', inspired by artichokes by artist Cansu Sönmez, in an abandoned mansion in Bayrampasa. In the past, a stream flowed in front of the mansion and artichokes grew in this area.
Even imagining growing artichokes in the middle of Istanbul is utopian enough right now. But nowadays, when you look from the balcony of the mansion, you only see tall buildings and cars flowing in traffic. There couldn't be a better place to take a portrait of the artist who uses artichokes as a bridge to allow our minds to wander between the past and the future.
D.
Information update: I received the Honorary Award at the Tokyo International Photography Competition with the portrait photograph of Cansu Sönmez, the creator of the Cynara exhibition opened at Pg Art Gallery.
Photos of the exhibition were published by ArtDog Istanbul, Unlimited Rag, Sanat Okur, Hürriyet Newspaper etc. published in online magazines.
