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An exhibition titled “Istanbul: One City, A Thousand Perspectives” (Istanbul: Bir Sehir, Bin Bakis) has opened in the French capital, Paris. Organized by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, the show opened with a ceremony at the historic Le Refectoire des Cordeliers building.
The exhibition brings together works by 29 artists across disciplines including modern miniature, illumination, painting, watercolor, illustration, ceramic tile and digital art. Curated by miniature and illumination artist Leyla Kara, the show features 74 works.
Several pieces depict historic structures in Istanbul, among them the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the Maiden’s Tower.
Attendees included Türkiye’s Ambassador to Paris Yunus Demirer; Türkiye’s permanent representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Esen Altug; and Kerem Yilmaz, Türkiye’s consul general in Paris.
Kilic Bugra Kanat, a professor and member of the Presidency’s Security and Foreign Policies Board, and Bernard Fialaire, head of the France-Türkiye Friendship Group in the French Senate, also took part, along with many art lovers.
In a message read on his behalf at the ceremony, Directorate of Communications head Burhanettin Duran thanked attendees for supporting the exhibition.
Duran said a place becomes a city through its squares, streets, buildings and residents. He described Istanbul as a city that has endured across the centuries through its witnesses and historical memory, noting that every corner of the city, from Galata to the Golden Horn and from Sultanahmet to the Bosporus, holds a new beauty.
He said the past can never be fully separated from the present in Istanbul, adding, “In this city, history is not a forgotten element.” Duran described history in the city as something that accompanies the present, gives it new meaning, and shapes the vision of the future.
Duran said it is no coincidence that Istanbul has inspired artists in poetry, literature, music, painting, and many other fields, adding that the exhibition's works reflect the artists’ own visions. He said the show is important for presenting Istanbul’s history and cultural heritage in Paris, and he expressed hope that it will strengthen cultural dialogue between the two countries and help build new ties through art.
Speaking at the opening, exhibition curator Kara said, “I am incredibly happy to bring two ancient cities together.” She noted that 74 works by 29 artists use different techniques and materials, and said each visitor's perspective adds to the “thousand” in the exhibition’s title.
Kara thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Duran, Kanat, the Directorate of Communications and the Turkish Embassy in Paris for making the exhibition possible. She also thanked the guests and concluded: “I hope you encounter at least one work that embraces your soul. Because we believe in the healing and unifying power of art.”
Fialaire thanked the organizers for the invitation and said art has enriched the dialogue between France and Türkiye. The French senator said artists best express emotions and described Istanbul as an extraordinary city. He added that the exhibition's works help foster positive feelings between the French and Turkish peoples.
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