From Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Emine Ceylan

"For My Father"

The title of the photography exhibition jointly organized by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Emine Ceylan is "For My Father." The "hero" of the exhibition, and what they call "our hero" in their personal lives, is their father, Mehmet Emin Ceylan.

We know him as the "grandfather" in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's film "Kasaba" and particularly as "Emin" in "Clouds of May," where he won the Best Actor award at the Alexandria Film Festival. Reading Emine Ceylan's text from the exhibition catalogue, we understand that the world of Emin in the film breathes the same air as Mehmet Emin Ceylan's.

In the story of their father, Mehmet Emin Ceylan, there is a life that starts in poverty in a village, reaches university through endless sacrifice and hard work, learns a foreign language by himself, is curious about history, archaeology, and almost everything that concerns humanity, goes to America to improve his profession, and then dedicates himself to nature, especially trees, a life filled with impossibilities and loneliness.

Emine Ceylan's answer to the question "why did we organize this exhibition?" is: "Because our father never gave up on the path he walked until the end. Because he is strong enough not to need acceptance or applause. Most importantly, because he had the determination and will to live his passions, even though he knew they wouldn't be rewarded in this society. Perhaps because we long for such a life and envy it. Because we are sure that Bilge, who became interested in photography while tinkering with the tiny camera he brought from America with great difficulty, and our shared passion for photography, and the paths we have taken, are all rooted in his radiant presence. And it's April again. He's turning 86. Because we feel that the days we will spend together are rapidly diminishing. The other day, before writing this piece, I wanted to ask him something about his life over the phone. He said, 'There's nothing interesting in my life. There's no need for these.' He said, 'I want to live in my shell.' I wanted to ask about his relationship with his father, 'Did he love you?' I asked. A little surprised, he said, 'There wasn't such a thing.' 'We just worked,' he said. After a short pause, he slowed down his voice and said, 'I don't remember anything other than work.' And he added, 'I've come this far at this age.'"

The Ceylan siblings' very special exhibition can be viewed at the Milli Reasürans Art Gallery from April 1st to 19th, 2008.