Exhibition Event: In Conversation with Şebnem İşigüzel, Demet Yıldız Dinçer, and Orhan Cem Çetin
Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 18.00
Istanbul Modern Event Room 1
For the first public program accompanying the exhibition “Manuel Çıtak: An Island of One’s Own,” Istanbul Modern brings together the artist’s partner, writer Şebnem İşigüzel; photographer, writer, and academic Orhan Cem Çetin; and Head of Photography, the exhibition’s curator, Demet Yıldız Dinçer.
İşigüzel, who authored the text featured in both the exhibition’s audio guide and catalogue, shares her memories and observations of Çıtak’s personal world, his relationship with photography, and his creative process. Orhan Cem Çetin, who edited the sixteenth volume of the Eczacıbaşı Photographers Series, dedicated to Manuel Çıtak, discusses the artist’s photographic practice and the different periods of his work. Moderated by Dinçer, the conversation also explores the exhibition’s preparation process and curatorial approach.
About Şebnem İşigüzel:
Şebnem İşigüzel (b. 1973) has published short stories and novels since 1993 and has received numerous literary awards. Her books have been published in more than 30 languages. The Gilgamesh opera, for which she wrote the libretto, and her plays have been staged. She lives in Istanbul and works as a full-time writer.
About Orhan Cem Çetin:
Since the 1980s, Orhan Cem Çetin (b. 1960) has held numerous solo exhibitions and collaborated on projects with artists from various disciplines. He writes essays on photographic culture and, alongside his photographic practice, works as a consultant and editor for cultural institutions. He currently serves as a project advisor at BEVFAM (Bülent Eczacıbaşı Foundation Photography Research Center), a member of Istanbul Modern’s Photography Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of ASKEV (Bilginer-Melin Ayvalık Art, Culture and Education Foundation), and a lecturer in the Media and Visual Arts (MAVA) department at Koç University.
The event is free of charge.
Attendance is limited due to seating capacity.
The event is held in Turkish.
