Istanbul

Throughout its history, Istanbul has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous conquerors, weaving a unique tapestry of cultural identities within the walls of great empires. Today, it stands as a bustling metropolis, torn between the forces of political Islam and Western capitalism, straddling the continents of Asia and Europe, physically separated by the Bosphorus and ideologically by contrasting visions of the future. For more than two years, Kevin Wolf has returned to Istanbul numerous times. While documenting the social contrasts in the daily lives of its residents, he uncovers a deep melancholy that pervades the city. Istanbul-born writer Orhan Pamuk once called this sentiment "hüzün" and described it as a state of mind deeply ingrained in the people of Istanbul over the centuries. My book 'Hüzün' attempts to visually capture this unique 'Istanbul feeling' as it winds from the Bosphorus across the Golden Horn to the hilly neighborhoods of Türkiye’s largest metropolis. The series "Hüzün" won the Street Photographers Foundation Award 2023 and was exhibited several times, including the Tehran Street Photo Festival in 2023. The book 'Hüzün' will be published in fall 2024.