The exhibition "İstanbul: One City, a Thousand Perspectives," organised by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, has opened in Paris, the French capital. The opening ceremony for the exhibition "İstanbul: One City, a Thousand Perspectives" was held at the historic Le Réfectoire des Cordeliers in Paris.
Organised by the Directorate of Communications, the exhibition featured works by 29 artists across a range of artistic disciplines, including modern miniature, illumination, painting, watercolour, illustration, "çini" (traditional Turkish tile art) and digital art. Curated by miniature and illumination artist Leyla Kara, the exhibition showcases works depicting İstanbul’s major historical landmarks, including the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the Maiden’s Tower. Having attracted considerable interest from art enthusiasts, the exhibition will continue to welcome visitors until tomorrow.
The exhibition’s opening ceremony was attended by Türkiye's Ambassador to Paris, Yunus Demirer; Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Esen Altuğ; Türkiye's Consul General in Paris, Kerem Yılmaz; Member of the Security and the Foreign Policies Council of the Presidency, Prof. Kılıç Buğra Kanat; President of the France-Türkiye Interparliamentary Friendship Group in the French Senate, Bernard Fialaire, as well as a large number of art enthusiasts.
The ceremony featured a message from the Presidency’s Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran.
"In this city, history is not something that is forgotten"
In his message, Head of Communications Duran expressed his gratitude to those attending the special exhibition. Emphasising that a place becomes a city when its squares, streets, buildings and inhabitants come together, Head of Communications Duran noted that İstanbul is a city that has stood the test of time through the ages, bearing witness to the past and present while retaining its historical memory.
Pointing out that every corner of İstanbul, from Galata and the Golden Horn to Sultanahmet and the Bosphorus, reveals a different beauty, Head of Communications Duran said, "Another aspect that makes İstanbul special is that the past can never be entirely detached from the present. In this city, history is not something that is forgotten."
In his message, Head of Communications Duran highlighted that, in İstanbul, history is "something that accompanies the present, lends it new meaning and shapes the vision for the future." Noting that it was no coincidence that İstanbul has inspired artists in poetry, literature, music, painting, and many other fields, Head of Communications Duran stated that the works featured in the exhibition also reflected the artists’ distinctive visions. Highlighting the exhibition's vital role in promoting İstanbul’s history and cultural heritage in Paris, Head of Communications Duran said, "I hope this meaningful gathering will strengthen cultural dialogue between our two countries and pave the way for creating new connections through art."
"We believe in the healing and unifying power of art"
Speaking at the opening ceremony, artist Kara expressed, “I am thrilled to be bringing two ancient cities together.” Noting that the exhibition features 74 works by 29 artists, Kara said, “Each of your perspectives will help complete the thousand for us." Drawing attention to the different techniques and materials used by the artists in their works, Kara thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Head of Communications Duran, Kanat, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and the Turkish Embassy in Paris for making the exhibition possible. Kara also thanked those attending the opening ceremony and concluded her remarks, saying, "I hope you come across at least one work that embraces your soul. Because we believe in the healing and unifying power of art.” French Senator Fialaire expressed gratitude to the organisers for the invitation to the exhibition, noting that art has enriched dialogue between France and Türkiye. Stating that artists are the ones best able to express emotions, Fialaire emphasised that İstanbul is an extraordinary city. The French senator noted that the artworks featured in the exhibition have contributed to fostering goodwill between the French and Turkish peoples.
