In modern-day Istanbul, the district of Beyoğlu lies beyond the historical district of Fatih, separated by a waterway known as the Golden Horn. Beyoğlu was once called ‘Pera’ by the inhabitants of Fatih, which originates from the Greek word for ‘Beyond.’
This series is not based solely in Beyoğlu – but rather, it is
an exploration of some of the many diverse neighbourhoods in Istanbul.
I named the series ‘Pera’, as for me, Istanbul was once a city that glimmered just beyond the horizon of my own experiences. It was a city that felt vaguely familiar but also new and exciting.
A city where I hoped to meet my distant Turkish and Middle Eastern relatives and help me understand my own identity.
Growing up, Istanbul was of mythical importance to me.
I became obsessed with the music, cuisine, the stories of the metropolis and its unique culture.
A culture fused together by the millions of people from far and wide who have called the bustling streets home for centuries, evolving it into a city that is at times rugged but unbeatable in beauty.
A city whose walls have cried from loss and struggle but also laughed from joy and celebration through the unification of people and culture.
Istanbul is a crossroad, where east meets west and is undeniably one of the most unique cities in the world.
A city that is the complete definition of ‘Cosmopolitan’.
The Sultan of cities.
