The world’s leading photography foundation, International Center of Photography (ICP), has for the first time awarded Turkish photographer Ahmet Polat as “The World’s Best Young Photographer Award.”

Polat, by wining the award, showed that he can stand proud in the international arena, along side veteran photographers like Henri Cartier, Thomas Rose, and Jeff Krueger, past award-winners.

“The World’s Best Young Photographer Contest,” organized by ICP, is regarded as the most prestigious award in the world of photography. The goal of this competition, which was first held in 1984, is to discover new photographic talent that will be remembered in the future.

Ahmet Polat was born in Roosendaal, the Netherlands in 1978. In 2000, he graduated from the Art Academy of Saint Joost in Breda. His work has been exhibited in several galeries in the Netherlands and Turkey. Recently he is resident of and operative in Istanbul.

KAMIL SUKUN, publisher

Born: July 18, 1948, Istanbul.

Graduate of Ankara Koleji and Ankara Academy of Economical and Commercial Sciences, International Trade.

2004– Owner and Editor-in Chief second term Vizon magazine

Also:
1971-74 Free-Lance Photographer;
1974 Director of Photography, lbas Ileri Basin Yay. A.S.;
1975 Art Director, Editor-in-Chief Adam Magazine;
1976-83 Editor-in-Chief Ev Dekorasyon magazine;
1977-83 Founder & Editor-in-Chief Vizon magazine;
1979– Founder & Producer VizonShow; Editor-in-Chief Gelin magazine, Türkiyenin En Güzel Evleri
Served as lieutenant to Turkish Navy. 1979-80.
1981;1983– Founder & Director Profesyonel Ltd.;
1985– Founder & Editor-in-Chief Grand Encyclopedia of Biography Who’s Who in Turkey - Günümüz Türkiyesinde Kim Kimdir.
1985–Consultant to Istanbul Chamber of Commerce for Group Fashion Organizations.

Member of International Association of Directory Publishers, Royal Photographic Society UK, International Advertising Association, Çiragan Group Istanbul (General Secretary, 1992), Maslak Rotary Club., Istanbul Hi-Fi Club. (Founding President 1995), International Computer Users’ Fellowship of Rotary. 1971 7th International Biennial Exhibition of Photography Diploma Award. 1984 The Foundation for Turkish Naval Forces’ Enhancement, plaque of gratitude; 1985 UNICEF International President, T.C. The Minister of Health plaques of gratitude; 1986 UNICEF Turkish National Committee plaque of gratitude; 1987 The Foundation for Fight Against Cancer certificate of gratitude; 1988 Ankara College Alumnae plaque of gratitude; 1989 The Turkish Kidney Foundation & Yesilköy Lions Club plaque of gratitude; 1990 Lions certificate of gratitude; 1994 Istanbul Maslak Rotary Club plaque of gratitude, author of Adam magazine cover chosen among the best of the year 1978 Photographis Annual.

Exhibitions; Europicamera International, Ieper, Belgium, 1969 1st Exhibition of Turkish Photography Ankara, The Man in the City Turkish Union Of Architects and Engineers Ankara, 1973-74; one man shows: Kamil Sükûn Photo Exhibition 1972 Turkish-German Cultural Center, Istanbul; ‘Something Like Photography’ 1973 Belgrade Cultural Center, Belgrade; ‘Kâmil Sükûn - Rebii Photo Exhibition’ Cinematheque Istanbul; ‘Excerpts from Life’ Harbiye City Gallery, Istanbul; ‘Kâmil Sükûn Retrospective 1974 Turkish-American Association Ankara; 1974 ‘Ara Güler says “Merhaba” to Kâmil Sükûn Drugstore 1001 Istanbul.

SAYGUN DURA
My Reflected Reality
Curated by Zishan Ugurlu Ph.D

The Gallery at The Marmara-Manhattan is pleased to present “My Reflected Reality” an exhibition by Turkish born artist Saygun Dura. In keeping with The
Gallery at The Marmara-Manhattan’s commitment to introducing international artists to the New York art scene, this is the first time Dura’s work has been
seen in the United States.

What is left out in photographs often speaks as strongly as what is seen. Each of Dura’s images begins with elements seen in his dream world and he develops
his concepts as he assembles props perfecting every detail as he refines composition and lighting. Lines and forms, shading and highlights commonly associated
with painting and sculpture, are his language of picture making. By laying out a visual puzzle, his images spring from the enigmatic world of Surrealism
and confront the viewer with unfamiliar and original expressive possibilities, and DuraÕs engagement with great masters like Max Ernest feed his own creativity.

Fish has been used as a metaphor in all his photography. Taking them out of the magical underwater atmosphere and bringing them into his images allows
them to function as a metaphor for the suffering of modern, alienated, lonely human being. In the company of Bosch, Dali, Ernst and other contemporary artist
like Peter Witkin, Dura creates an inexhaustible reality not for himself, but for us too.

He was born in Adana, Turkey. Graduated with a BA in Economics. He became an assistant to Ersin Alok. Since 1990 he has served as a professor at Mimar Sinan
University. He worked from 1990 to 1997 at an advertising company as a photographer and director of photography. Since 1997 he has been co-owner of Akya Photography.