MY DEAR BROTHER: ARMENIANS IN TURKEY 100 YEARS AGO
An unusual exhibition opening at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, "My Dear
Brother: Armenians in Turkey 100 years ago", provides fascinating
insights into the life of the Armenians living in the borders of
modern Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century through a large
collection of postcards of daily life and scenery from across the
region. The exhibition of both enlarged images and original postcards
was conceived and put together by Osman Koker, based on his book by
the same name (Istanbul: Birzamanlar, 2005).
Portrayed are different aspects of life from beautiful buildings
and churches to inside factories, women working together, townscapes
and craftsmen. From scenes of urban Constantinople to small villages
in the east, the images show how widespread and integrated Armenian
communities were across the Ottoman territory and demonstrate their
roles in society. The exhibition also serves the purpose of showing
ways in which Armenians, Turks and other peoples of the Ottoman Empire
lived and worked together.
Added to the London showing of the exhibition will be maps, texts
and an oral history-based community exhibit, displaying objects from
the same era still found today in Armenians’ London homes. Rugs,
metal-work, pottery, clothing and other textiles will be among these
pieces. The historical uses of these items will be explained through
accompanying texts and videos, alongside photographic material.
The postcards are from the collection of Orlando Carlo Calumeno and
have been exhibited in Istanbul, Yerevan, Geneva, Paris, Munich,
Cologne and Frankfurt. The Armenian Institute, London, has organized
the exhibition and accompanying events programme which are both
sponsored by the St Sarkis Charity Trust and Diana and Panos Katsouris.