Call me Ci. I was born in Beyoğlu, Istanbul on July 6th, 1986. I studied Italian Language And Literature at Istanbul University. Following that, I worked for advertising agencies as copywriter and creative director for many years. I was 28 when I discovered visual story-telling. I did music photography and photojournalism for a while, then I decided to devote my time solely on my own stories.
My work is focused on Istanbul and its personal psychogeographies. Adopting documentary as secondary function, I tell stories using the scenes of my city. My distinct colour palette is a derivation of the look of Italian giallos of ‘70s, and I take clues from the cinematography of classic horror films in my visual language — even though almost all of my photographs take place in the daytime.
- Affiliate of PLATFORM by GAPO.
- Visit Mixer for prints (catalogue).
- Write to me: ci@cidemi.art
Awards & Accomplishments
2023 Shortlist, Belfast Photo Festival
2022 Winner, Discovery Awards, Encontros da Imagem
2022 Nominee, Leica Oskar Barnack Award
2022 First place, "Streets of Istanbul" series category, Fotoistanbul
2021 Shortlist, 212 Photography Istanbul
2023 Shortlist, Belfast Photo Festival
2022 Winner, Discovery Awards, Encontros da Imagem
2022 Nominee, Leica Oskar Barnack Award
2022 First place, "Streets of Istanbul" series category, Fotoistanbul
2021 Shortlist, 212 Photography Istanbul
Features & Interviews
Onagöre Blog (Interview, 2023)
Safelight Paper (Feature, 2023)
Pera Museum Blog (Story, 2023)
Switch Magazine (Feature, Print, 2023)
Hyperallergic (Interview, 2023)
ArtDog Istanbul (Interview, Print, 2023)
Calling #2 (Interview, 2022)
Maviblau (Interview, 2022)
Creative Review (Photography Annual, Feature, Print, 2022)
Yerden Yüksek (Açık Radyo, Interview, 2022)
Decalogue Magazine (Feature, 2022)
Calling (Interview, 2022)
Bant Mag (Interview, 2022)
British Journal of Photography (Feature, Print, 2022)
Booooooom (Feature, 2022)
212 Studio (Interview, 2022)
Onagöre Blog (Interview, 2023)
Safelight Paper (Feature, 2023)
Pera Museum Blog (Story, 2023)
Switch Magazine (Feature, Print, 2023)
Hyperallergic (Interview, 2023)
ArtDog Istanbul (Interview, Print, 2023)
Calling #2 (Interview, 2022)
Maviblau (Interview, 2022)
Creative Review (Photography Annual, Feature, Print, 2022)
Yerden Yüksek (Açık Radyo, Interview, 2022)
Decalogue Magazine (Feature, 2022)
Calling (Interview, 2022)
Bant Mag (Interview, 2022)
British Journal of Photography (Feature, Print, 2022)
Booooooom (Feature, 2022)
212 Studio (Interview, 2022)
Der Grief (Feature, 2022)
Yogurt Magazine (Feature, 2022)
The Museum of Modern Art (Feature, 2022)
Bir Kare Bir Anlam (TRT 2, Documentary, 2022)
ERRR Magazine (Interview, 2022)
Art Unlimited (Editorial, 2022)
WePresent (Profile, 2022)
Anywhere Blvd (Interview, 2022)
Urbanautica (Interview, 2022)
Fisheye Magazine (Feature, 2022)
allcitiesarebeautiful (Interview, 2022)
Fotoğraf Konuşmaları (Podcast, 2021)
Nowness Asia (Feature, 2021)
Broad Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Noice Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Kaleydoskop (Interview, 2021)
AnOther Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Ain’t Bad (Feature, 2021)
Trendland (Interview, 2021)
C41 Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Subjectively Objective (Feature, 2021)
this isn’t happiness (Feature, 2021)
VSCO (Interview, 2019)
Istanbul Art News (Feature, Print, 2019)
Fabrika Zine (Feature, Print, 2018)
L'Œil de la Photographie (Feature, 2017)
GUP Magazine (Feature, 2017)
Yogurt Magazine (Feature, 2022)
The Museum of Modern Art (Feature, 2022)
Bir Kare Bir Anlam (TRT 2, Documentary, 2022)
ERRR Magazine (Interview, 2022)
Art Unlimited (Editorial, 2022)
WePresent (Profile, 2022)
Anywhere Blvd (Interview, 2022)
Urbanautica (Interview, 2022)
Fisheye Magazine (Feature, 2022)
allcitiesarebeautiful (Interview, 2022)
Fotoğraf Konuşmaları (Podcast, 2021)
Nowness Asia (Feature, 2021)
Broad Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Noice Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Kaleydoskop (Interview, 2021)
AnOther Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Ain’t Bad (Feature, 2021)
Trendland (Interview, 2021)
C41 Magazine (Feature, 2021)
Subjectively Objective (Feature, 2021)
this isn’t happiness (Feature, 2021)
VSCO (Interview, 2019)
Istanbul Art News (Feature, Print, 2019)
Fabrika Zine (Feature, Print, 2018)
L'Œil de la Photographie (Feature, 2017)
GUP Magazine (Feature, 2017)
Clients
Zeit Magazin (Editorial, 2023)
Die Zeit (Editorial, 2023)
Kaos GL (Cover, 2023)
Zeit Magazin (Editorial, 2023)
Die Zeit (Editorial, 2023)
Kaos GL (Cover, 2023)
Altyazı (Editorial, 2022)
Reflect Studio (Commercial, 2022)
Frankie Magazine (Editorial, 2022)
Zorlu PSM (Editorial, 2018)
Simge Pınar (Single Cover, Editorial, 2018)
Deniz Tekin (Editorial, 2017)
Beaten Fame (Album Cover, Editorial, 2017)
Hasbro (Creative Direction, 2016)
Exess (Creative Direction, 2016)
shopi go (Creative Direction, 2016)
Sofar Sounds (Editorial, 2015 - 2018)
Yves Rocher (Editorial, 2014 - 2016)
Jãgermeister (Copywriting, 2012 - 2014)
Reflect Studio (Commercial, 2022)
Frankie Magazine (Editorial, 2022)
Zorlu PSM (Editorial, 2018)
Simge Pınar (Single Cover, Editorial, 2018)
Deniz Tekin (Editorial, 2017)
Beaten Fame (Album Cover, Editorial, 2017)
Hasbro (Creative Direction, 2016)
Exess (Creative Direction, 2016)
shopi go (Creative Direction, 2016)
Sofar Sounds (Editorial, 2015 - 2018)
Yves Rocher (Editorial, 2014 - 2016)
Jãgermeister (Copywriting, 2012 - 2014)