Ahmet Polat sheds light on the lives of Afro-Turks, many of whom came to work in the open fields of Izmir, located in the West of Turkey. Izmir was the main destination for Afro-Turks, former slaves of the Ottoman Empire who later became agricultural workers during the 19th century. Most citizens living in Turkey today remain unaware of this past and Izmir’s Afro-Turkish heritage.   

Galerie Mercatorplein: Ahmet Polat – Dark Moon: Tales of the Afro-Turkish Diaspora, 2022

Galerie Mercatorplein

Durmuš Ali Delibas in Izmir  Dark Moon Tales of the Afro-Turkish Diaspora, 2005-2022

Ahmet Sezer being photographed by his son Ahmet, Dark Moon Tales of the Afro-Turkish Diaspora, 2005-2022

Galerie Mercatorplein: Johny Pitts - Afropean: Travels in Black Europe, 2020

Cemre Yeşil - Double Portrait, 2022  

Dark Moon: Tales of the Afro-Turkish Diaspora

Ahmet Polat Dark Moon: Tales of the Afro-Turkish Diaspora

In his project Kemal&rsquo;s Dream, photographer Ahmet Polat focuses on young people in present-day Turkey.

Many Turkish families still lead traditional lives; yet, a more individualistic and Western lifestyle also has appeal. For many young people, this produces an inner conflict that typifies the entire Republic of Turkey.&nbsp;As the son of a Dutch mother and a Turkish father, Polat (NL,1978) recognizes these issues and decided to document this essential process as reflected in his own generation.&nbsp;
Because of his own personal history Polat has succeeded in depicting his subjects from the inside rather than just as an outside observer. This results in a personal document that brings the newest generation of Turks closer.&nbsp;By capturing youth in big cities as well as in the more conservative rural areas, he reflects the diversity within a generation.
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/113697/595x484/f3fe266c51/595_wrestler_boys__edirne__2008__c__ahmet_polat.jpg" alt="" width="595" height="484" /> Wrestler boys, Edirne 2008 &copy; Ahmet Polat
With thanks to The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture.
Foam is supported by the BankGiro Loterij, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, City of Amsterdam, Delta Lloyd, Olympus and the VandenEnde Foundation.

Ahmet Polat

Zeinab El Bouni, Postcards from Morocco, 2019

Kısmet - Cemre Yeşil & Ahmet Polat

by Ahmet Polat during our two-day festival on 10 and 11 June. Through a series of fun and inspiring events, we will learn more about the 

Afro-Turkish diaspora and Turkey's plural heritage. 

On 10 June, we will explore an evening of coffee readings through warm conversations around the collective practice of drinking and reading Turkish coffee. On 11 June, we will organise a performance and talk at Galerie Mercatorplein.

MAQAM / Mercatorplein

Emir Ayse Kara Yavas photographed in Dalaman in 2009, Dark Moon Tales of the Afro-Turkish Diaspora, 2005-2022

Dark Moon 2-Day Festival

Tijdens Fotoweek 2015 bemant fotograaf Ahmet Polat op zaterdag 12 september een fotostudio in Foam. Polat legt deze dag bezoekers en hun familieleden vast in een bijzonder (familie)portret.

Tussen 13.00 en 17.00 uur kun je jezelf, of jouw familie laten portretteren door de Ahmet. De kosten per shoot bedragen &euro; 30,-. De foto krijg je na afloop van de shoot mee en wordt afgedrukt op A5 formaat (21 x 14,8 cm).
Ahmet Polat (1978, Roosendaal) is een Turks/Nederlandse documentaire- en modefotograaf. Zijn werk is veelvuldig ge&euml;xposeerd in solo- en groepstentoonstellingen, onder andere in Foam, en internationaal bij instellingen van Istanbul tot S&atilde;o Paulo.
FOTOGRAAF DES VADERLANDS Polat is eerder in 2015&nbsp;door Fotoweek benoemd tot derde Fotograaf des Vaderlands. Met deze eretitel is hij een jaar lang h&eacute;t gezicht van de Nederlandse fotografie en maakte hij speciaal voor Fotoweek een serie met het thema&nbsp;<a href="/nl/museum/programma/kijk-mijn-straat">Kijk! Mijn Straat</a>. Polat ging de straten op van Nederlandse steden en dorpen om bewoners te volgen in hun dagelijkse omgeving.
NATIONALE FOTOWEEK Van 11 t/m 20 september 2015 is de derde editie van&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defotoweek.nl/">Fotoweek</a>, een initiatief van Foam en het&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/nl/">Nederlands Fotomuseum</a>. Tien dagen lang staat heel Nederland in het teken van fotografie en valt er van alles te beleven voor iedereen die van foto&rsquo;s en fotograferen houdt. Met het thema Kijk! Mijn Straat wil Fotoweek alle Nederlanders inspireren om hun directe, alledaagse leefomgeving te delen door middel van fotografie.
FOAM FUND Van 10.00 tot 12.00 uur is de studio exclusief&nbsp;beschikbaar voor <a href="/about/foam-fund">Foam Fund</a> leden om op afspraak een portretfoto te laten maken. Hiervoor kun je je tot en met 3 september aanmelden via&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mathilde@foam.org">mathilde@foam.org</a>. &nbsp;
Fotoweek is een initiatief van Nederlands Fotomuseum en Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam en wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door de BankGiro Loterij en DuPho.

<div class="sidebar__content">Practical information 
Date: Saturday 12 September&nbsp; Tijd: 13.00 - 17.00 uur. Kosten:&nbsp;&euro; 30&nbsp;euro per shoot. Reservations: not applicable&nbsp;
&nbsp;
* Are you a Foam Fund member? The studio is reserved from 10.00 to 12.00 to make a (family)portrait by appointment. You can sign up for this activity by sending an e-mail to <a href="mailto:mathilde@foam.org">mathilde@foam.org</a>&nbsp;before September 3.</div>

<div class="sidebar__content">Foam Fund 
</div>

Fotoweek 2015: Een bijzonder portret

From the series Double Portrait, 2021

How do young Dutch-Turkish image-makers and that same generation of Turkish image-makers give shape to the worlds they live in? With shared heritage as the starting point, multi-year project Kısmet explores the complex and rich perspectives of emerging talents.

Podcast with Cemre Yeşil and Ahmet Polat

Kısmet

In this episode, artist Cemre Yeşil speaks with Ahmet Polat, director of Studio Polat and co-curator of the multi-year project Kısmet. Together, they reflect on their professional connection, Cemre’s extended artistic practice and the Turkish photography scene.

Podcast

Kısmet with Cemre Yeşil and Ahmet Polat

We offer a variety of educational activities to teach everyone about the art of photography.

Opening MAQAM

Creative space for local residents, talent and creatives in the heart of Kolenkit.

MAQAM

Gallery Mercatorplein is a recurring photo exhibition in the public space. 

Mercatorplein

collaborative spaces

X-Rated#1, 2017

Opening Mous Lamrabat & Magnum Photographers, 2022

Based on the expertise of young students, they will guide you through the exhibition with short interactive assignments.

Interactive Tour: Mous Lamrabat

People on the balcony of a house in Ahrweiler. On the first day after the flood, the extent of the destruction was difficult to assess, so there was a disastrous shortage of equipment and emergency personnel in the flooded area. Ahrweiler, July 15, 2021

For photographers. The series offers an insight into best practices, tips and tricks. With guest speakers Eefje Ludwig and DOC

Workshop: Collaborations, Collectives & Copyright

Free Guided Tour, 2022

Our experienced museum teachers challenge you to look closely and form your own opinion on the photography in the museum.

ahmet-polat