New exhibition from the Museum of the Prince' Islands
"The Islands Were Here Before Bodrum, Marmaris Came Along!"
Burgazada in the mid-20th Century Through Photographs from the Yaman Alkan Collection
The Museum of the Princes’ Islands has unveiled its latest exhibition at the historic ferry terminal on Büyükada. Organized in collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), İBB Heritage, and İBB Culture, the exhibition draws upon the Yaman Alkan Collection to spotlight the mid-20th century—a pivotal era when both Istanbul and the Princes’ Islands began experiencing significant transformations.
From the second half of the 19th century onwards, the Islands emerged as significant summer retreats and proximate tourism hubs for Istanbul. The summer residences and hotels, many of which still stand today, came to embody the visible identity of the Islands. Although some of these structures began to shift in function during the latter half of the 20th century, the overall landscape remained largely unchanged until the century’s final quarter.
During this period, Bodrum, Marmaris, and even Antalya were yet to be discovered. The Islands were the favored destinations for the affluent,
marking an era characterized by seasonal “migrations” between
Istanbul and the Islands.
The decline began with the pollution of the Marmara Sea. Following this, the famed summer houses and hotels of the Islands were transformed into apartment buildings. While this change was not as pronounced as in other summer districts of Istanbul, it was a period when the charm of the Islands started to wane. The compulsory migrations of 1964 and 1974 further struck a blow to the vibrant life of the Islands, and in many ways, the spirit of the Islands began to wither.
Documenting the Islands’ appearance in the 1950s became crucial to draw comparisons with the present day—allowing us to understand what has been preserved and what has been lost.
For the past five years, Burgazadan collector Yaman Alkan has tirelessly worked to compile a visual archive of Burgazada. The photographs and visual materials featured in the exhibition represent a curated selection from his extensive collection.
The exhibition, consisting of 37 panels, will remain open throughout 2025.
…..
"Before Bodrum and Marmaris, There Were the Islands"
Burgazada in the mid-20th Century Through Photographs from the Yaman Alkan Collection
Photographs: Yaman Alkan
Collection Coordination and Turkish Texts: Halim Bulutoğlu
Captions: Bercuhi Berberyan
English Translation: Melis Şeyhun Çalışlar
Design: Belma Saraççı, Ajans Medya
Contributors: Dilek Bektaş, Ercüment Börekçi, Gottfried Reitinger, İzel Levi Coşkun, Kamile Çil, Leyla Durmuş, Nino Debehar, Robert Schild, Sevim Çavdarlı, Seyfi İşman, Taner Özkan
Comentarios