Exhibitions 2025

Istanbul: Faces of Freedom

The photo series Istanbul, Faces of freedom by Manca Juvan is part of the Svoboda Metropole – Freedom of Metropolis, TRANS-MAKING project (2017-2022) by The Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU). This project explores urban freedom and metropolitan life, aiming to highlight changes in urban spaces through its exhibition and accompanying book.

European cities, historically seen as bastions of freedom since the High Middle Ages, are undergoing significant changes in the new millennium. Metropolises like Istanbul, once perceived as safe havens for those escaping rigid traditions or political persecution, now reflect a shift in urban freedom. Today‘s perception of it testifies to the fact that freedom can be restricted at the origin of its birth as well. On one hand, authoritarian state policies seek to control urban spaces economically and politically. On the other, neoliberal capital rapidly thrives in cities. Additionally, personal circumstances and nuances further complicate the dynamics of urban freedom.

Istanbul, initially known as Byzantium, has always been a cultural crossroads, evolving into a center for diverse worlds and cultures. The city’s strategic location facilitated the blending of Asian Turks, Syrians, Kurds, Greeks, Bulgarians, Bosniaks, Albanians, Russians, and even Vikings, creating a rich, multi-layered tapestry that extends beyond our imagination, originating from remnants of Orientalist fantasy in the European perspective, and makes this city on the Bosphorus Strait extremely special, if not unique.
Oto Luthar