Ahmet Polat

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.

After Anahit, 2023

Dad And Omani Friends, November 2018

How do different generations 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 Turkish visual culture. Initiated by the longstanding cultural, diplomatic and economical connections between Turkey and the Netherlands, Kısmet was created by artist Ahmet Polat and further developed with Foam. 

Online Exhibition - Kismet: New Perspectives. Four Contemporary Image-makers from Turkey

articles

Current exhibitions

Dad and his Indian Friends, April 2017

Tophane, Istanbul, 1958

The Golden Horn, Istanbul

Listen to the Foam Talks episode about an Armenian statue, an emptied lake, and a fig tree.

Foam Talks with Ece Gökalp and Larissa Araz

Watch the visual podcast about the history of the Afro-Turkish community around Izmir, Turkey and their connection to image-making.

The Coffee Reading: Tales of the Afro Turkish Diaspora

From the series Double Portrait, 2021

Listen to the Foam Talks episode with artist Cemre Yeşil in conversation with Ahmet Polat where they speak about the Turkish photography scene.

Foam Talks with Cemre Yeşil and Ahmet Polat

podcasts

past exhibitions

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

Foam x de Hortus: Summer Workshop for Children, 2024

Join us at de Hortus to explore the secrets of the most beautiful garden in Amsterdam. Children participating in the workshop will collect flowers and

Foam x de Hortus: Summer Workshop for Children

Free guided tour in Dutch sign language, 2016

Photography is best discovered in your own language. During these interactive tours in Dutch sign language, you will talk about [...]

Free guided tour in Dutch sign language

Workshop pinhole fotografie voor kinderen

Join us on an exciting journey in Foam, with a pinhole camera in hand! In this special workshop, kids will hit the streets with curious eyes and creat

Through the little lens: Pinhole photography for kids

Latest activities

Opening MAQAM

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

MAQAM

Galerie Mercatorplein: Olgaç Bozalp, 2023

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

Mercatorplein

Collaborative spaces

Codex from the series Parasomnia, 2010

Foam Collection

Discover more online with the

Education

Young Kids enjoying their first photography workshop ‘Dark Moon’ Torbali, Izmir 2022

This story starts in 2002, when photographer Ahmet Polat (Studio Polat) met Mustafa Olpak in Izmir, Turkey. At the time, Olpak – an Afro-Turkish writer and activist – was tracing the history of enslaved Africans who were brought over to work in the open fields of Izmir in Western Turkey during the 19th century, but whose stories were never included in Turkish school books. He reached out to others who shared his Afro-Turkish ancestry, seeking to recollect their stories, to reconnect them with their past. Many of them lost touch with their ancestors’ heritage as they swiftly adapted to the demands of the young Turkish Republic. This eventually led Olpak to establish the African’s Culture and Solidarity Society (‘Dernek’) in 2006.

The Coffee Reading: Tales of the Afro-Turkish diaspora

watch the visual podcast here

Watch The Coffee Reading:

‘The Afro Turkish community has a unique family archive. We’ve been collecting photos and connecting people through it. The role of photography is very important how we celebrate and how we look at the future.

Ahmet Polat during a photography workshop in Turkey

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

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>

ahmet-polat

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

Ahmet Polat

Kısmet

Through the lens of Turkish visual culture

Kısmet with Cemre Yeşil and Ahmet Polat

Education

The Coffee Reading:
Tales of the Afro Turkish Diaspora

Two-day festival Dark Moon

Fotoweek 2015: Een bijzonder portret